Mute and hearing impaired couple ostracised by Chitradurga villagers for marrying out of caste

CHITRADURGA: A mute and hearing impaired couple, who have married out of caste, have been ostracised from the woman’s parental village N Devarahalli in Challakere taluk. Incidentally, the woman is a nursing mother of a one-month-old child and has now been put up at the women’s helpline centre.

Nirmala, a local, speaking to the couple in sign language at the women’s helpline centre.

Savithramma S of N Devarahalli and Pagadala Manikanta of Marlava village in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh fell in love and got married in March 2021. They have been working with a private company in Bengaluru for the last three years. When they visited N Devarahalli after their wedding, they were boycotted by the elders of the Jogi community and fined Rs 30,000 after which they returned to Bengaluru.

Savithramma, who is now a nursing, mother, visited her parental home recently, but was boycotted again and the village forced her to leave. After the intervention of social activists, Savithramma was moved to the Santwana women’s helpline centre in Challakere along with her one-month-old child.

Social activist Ananthamurthy has demanded action against those responsible for the boycott of the couple.

“The two fell in love and got married, but were ostracised by the villagers where there are about 50 families of the Jogi community as Savithramma had married out of caste and they were even made to pay a fine of Rs 30,000. After her delivery, she came to her parental house for a temple fair, but the couple was boycotted again. Those involved should be punished”, said social activist Ananthamurthy.

Savithramma’s cousin Manjunath said her parents asked him to drop off the couple somewhere.

Manjunath, a cousin, said, “The community leaders boycotted the couple and her parents told me to drop them off somewhere as I was headed to Sira. But I couldn’t do that and I brought them to the Santwana women’s helpline centre. Her parents are ready to take her back, but the villagers are adamant”.

Nirmala, a local, said, “Savithramma studied in our institution and I even taught her computers. She fell in love and found a job in Bengaluru. When the villagers had levied a fine of Rs 30,000 on the couple, Savithramma wanted to end her life, but I convinced her. The couple should get justice and those reponsible for their plight should be punished”.