Ordeal of socially boycotted family for 2 yrs

Bhimavaram: The state government has failed to act against elders of a village who imposed social boycott on a family for two years. The only ‘mistake’ of the family was that it approached officials and did not follow the verdict of village elders over a land dispute. 

All these years, many representations submitted to officials by the victimized family were dumped as any action against the offenders would cost votes of the villagers to the political leaders. The issue throws light on our democratic system which makes a mockery of itself.  
  
Kudupudi Venkatachalam, wife Venkayamma and son Lakshmana Rao were subjected to social boycott at Narsannacheruvu Palem in Konitivada Panchayat of Veeravasaram mandal by the village elders two years ago. Lakshmana Rao, a teacher by profession, had approached officials when the elders delivered raw deal to his family over a land dispute. 

The elders who belongs to a particular caste forms a majority and their rule only prevails in the village. Whatever the elders say will be last word in any case tackled by them. Though Lakshmana Rao also belongs to the same caste, his act of approaching officials to get justice angered the elders. 

The result was a resolution restricting all villagers from talking and helping Lakshmana Rao’s family. Those who ignore the order had to pay a penalty of Rs 5,000. 
   
Lakshmana Rao’s father suffered a lot for two years and breathed his last in September. The so called democratic system failed to deliver justice to the family of the deceased who approached them many a time. 

The cruelty of elders can be assessed by the fact that they did not allow villagers to attend for his funeral.

“The elders restricted villages from carrying the body of my father to the crematorium. During the past two years, no police officials or other officials never cared about us because of political pressures. 

Then I helped my mother approach the Collector at Prajavani to narrate ordeal of my family,” Lakshmana Rao added.

Following directives from Collector, Tahsildar Mukkanti has started inquiry into the social boycott issue.