Chhatrapur: The drastic rise in ostracism cases has become a matter of grave concern in rural villages of Ganjam district. In the recent past, there have been several instances of ‘social boycott’, mostly in villages. This age-old tradition of socially boycotting a family for various reasons still exists in most villages in the district. Just a few days back, there were reports of an Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel being boycotted by his family for an inter-caste marriage.
Meanwhile, as many as 18 families of fishermen community at Kainchapur village under Ganjam block have been socially boycotted from their village for the last six years. The matter came to the fore after these families met Ganjam SP Brijesh Kumar Rai Monday and sought his intervention in the issue. Despite repeated complaints, police officials have turned deaf ears to their plights, the families alleged.
They also have brought serious allegations against present Zilla Parishad member Sanatan Behera, who is the person behind their social boycott. According to the families, the fishermen community spends a lot of money every year on the village deity.
However, Behera, who is also the president of the Mahasangh, does not show the expenditure list and is alleged to have bungled the funds. When asked for the expenditure list, he spread rumours against the 18 families and ostracised them, the families alleged. Behera claims that the expenditure list was destroyed by rodents and refuted the allegations of ostracizing the fishermen families. “It is a drama to defame me,” Behera said.
Notably, families of two defence personnel in Polasara have appealed to the district administration for justice following alleged boycott by villagers after one of the two youths recently married a girl of another caste. The families were living peacefully until things took an ugly turn following Aurobindo’s intercaste marriage in January this year. Despite claims of awareness by administration and police, incidents of social boycott are on the rise in Ganjam. Last month, a woman samiti member and a former sarpanch in Ganjam block were reportedly ostracised for defying the village committee decisions.