Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Probed and declared pregnant, tribal brides now ostracized -Manjari Mishra

Probed and declared pregnant, tribal brides now ostracized -Manjari Mishra

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jun 12, 2013   modified Modified on Jun 12, 2013
-The Times of India


JABALPUR: Misfortune, like locusts, always arrives in bunches, philosophizes Sona Bai. The Gond tribal girl from Betul district's Neharpur village in her 20s knows this best. Getting booted out of the mass marriage pandal along with eight other prospective brides on June 7 after sarkari dai announced to the world her pregnancy, was only the beginning. Worse things seem to be hurtling down her way.

Peeved at the humiliating drama which "brought ignominy to the community", the tribal panchayat - the supreme body for Korku and Gonds that form 90% of the population this side, has decided to excommunicate her entire clan as well as that of the remaining eight.

The diktat is meant for all the nine young victims from Alampur, Goolar, Kursana, Baara and Neharpur villages of Betul district, who had registered to get married under the state sponsored Mukhyamantri Kanyadaan Yojna and unwittingly succumbed to the crude pregnancy test forced upon them by the authorities and ended up testing positive. Unfortunately for them no one is willing to support them.

Local BJA MLA Geeta Ramjilal Uike, instrumental in halting the offending procedure on the day, has washed her hands off the episode with both BJP and Congress slugging it out as the issue catapults to fierce fight for tribal vote bank, the MLA, a tribal herself, refuses to entertain the issue. "In any case, once the tribesmen decide to take a particular course of action, nothing can be done by anyone, their word is law after all," she told TOI on Tuesday.

The only way the panchayat will roll back the order is when the family invites the village for a community meal and hosts a "jaatmilona"- a function to formally to restore social ties and lift the boycott, the emboldened panch from Neharpur, Sarju Markam declared. The girls brought dishonour and there was a public spectacle. So penance has to be observed, he said.

But feeding a population of 1,200 is something much beyond Sona's folks, rued Deepak, her fiancee. The youth has decided to stand by Sona and "would marry her the day the crisis gets over". His only fear is the wait could be too long. As landless labourers the clan collectively earns Rs 1,000 per month and the arrival of monsoon further heralds lean days. Raising the amount for the lunch at such a short notice is simply out of question. This could mean an uncertain future for him, his prospective bride and the child as well.

So, as Sona quietly sits at home (she has been forbidden to move out and mingle) trying to ignore jeers and barbs aimed at her by neighbours and relatives, her fiance joins the hunt for a helping "mahajan" to fund the all important feast and make an honest woman of her.


The Times of India, 12 June, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Probed-and-declared-pregnant-tribal-brides-now-ostracized/articleshow/20548677.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close