Commission chief appalled by Gollarahatti horror tales

Women forced to pay fine of ` 1,000, for not abiding by tradition

While a hue and cry is being raised over ensuring equality to women, a stone age practise which banishes women out of the village during menstrual cycle and child births has been plaguing the women of Gollarahatti near Javagal, Hassan district. 

Following a media campaign against the atrocity, State Women’s Commission Chairperson, Manjula Manasa, paid a visit to Gollarahatti and surrounding villages, near Javagal, Hassan district, on Thursday.

“The effect of isolating women due to these practices among the community has been so severe that some women have sought refuge in surgically removing their uterus and ovaries, to avoid being victimised by the tradition,” she told Deccan Herald.

Manasa said that such a problem has been reported from several communities of cow-herders across the State, as literacy ratio among them is very low.

“The physical impact of removing uterus and ovaries have been so severe that some women are facing skin problems, inflammation in parts of the body, and other complications,” she said. Due to this, some women have aged unnaturally. “Women who are about 25-30 years old, appear to be around 40-50 years,” she said.

The villages, owing to some “self declared traditions”, has been isolating women who are made to stay on the outskirts of the village during their menstrual cycle for three days. They are banished from the village for three months after child birth. 

“If a woman of the impoverished and illiterate community does not abide by the tradition, she is forced to pay a fine of Rs 1,000, which is further burdening her,” Manasa said.

During her interaction with the women of these villages about such practices, they expressed helplessness over revolting against the inhumane tradition. “Decision of village elders is final. We can’t go against them,” they rued.

Survey

Following the visit, Manasa said that she would write to Deputy Directors of Women and Child Welfare department in the State, to identify villages where such problems still persist. “It is reported in Ramanagar, Chitradurga and other parts of the State. We will compile a list of villages, where the practise is still being observed,” she said.

Following the survey, the Commission will place a report before the government, demanding legislations against the practise, she added.