Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (KD/AF)

Mangalore, Jun 5: We talk of women’s liberation, but how many are really liberated from the chains of society?

Here is a woman who faces ostracism for working with members of the backward castes to earn her livelihood. 

Veeramma, a daily wage earner belonging to Vokkaliga or Gowda community residing at Alambila in Beltangady has been at the receiving end of malice from her fellow-villagers for the past five years.

A lady of abundant courage, Veeramma charged her husband of raping their daughter and won the case. Following imprisonment of the husband, she was forced to make her own living with her three children by working with members of the Mugera community. This irked the members of Gowda community which resulted in her being socially rejected.

Let alone being invited to any of the family functions in her native place, she is not even allowed to fetch drinking water from there.

When the district women and child welfare department learnt about the issue, they contacted Prajna Counseling Center and arranged to rehabilitate Veeramma’s first daughter Jayalakshmi, following reports of an inquiry by the department.  

However, Veeramma’s struggles continue as she has to support her two children while at the same time tolerate the hatred shown by the villagers. Even the police are totally silent about the issue which has raised many an eyebrow.