In yet another instance of caste-based discrimination, a woman was denied a proper cremation at Khatiguda village under Tentulikhunti block in Nabarangpur district over her daughter’s marriage outside the caste.
As per reports, Lakhmi Patral, a widow, passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital. After her body reached the village from the hospital, her daughter, who had married in another caste left the place immediately.
Lakhmi had only one son. He requested all the villagers to help him carry the body to the cremation ground to perform her last rites. However, the villagers refused to lend shoulder to the deceased’s body.
The villagers stated that as Lakhmi’s daughter got married to a lower caste, they would not carry the body to the cremation ground.
After 11 long hours, the body was cremated with the help of former Zilla Parishad member Sada Zani and some social workers.
“The incident is quite unfortunate. When we are vociferously telling us as civilized people, this kind of incident is a blot on humanity. Some powerful people are dominating and imposing their decisions on others to spread this kind of evil in the society. Caste is not only responsible but also class is responsible for this kind of social evil,” said women’s rights activist Namrata Chadha.