Tumkur: “If I stay outside the house during my delivery, who will look after my two children and husband? So I underwent a surgery to remove my uterus with my husband’s permission last year,” says Shivamma, 30, of ‘D’ Hosahalli village in Kunigal taluk, Tumkur.
She is not alone. Driven by a custom that forces women to spend about two months outside the village, leaving their families, after delivery and five days during their periods, over 30 women have undergone a major operation for removing their uterus in Gollara Hatti, ‘D’ Hosahalli village to avoid becoming pregnant and put an end to their menstrual cycles.
The practice that is common to the ‘Kaadu Golla’ community, sees many women and young girls leave their homes with their belongings at great inconvenience to themselves only to please the elders who enforce the law. “I don’t want to face this problems anymore and so decided to have the surgery as I have two children already,” explains a clearly harried Shivamma.
It doesn’t matter how educated the woman is, she has to fall in line with the inhuman custom or face the wrath of her community. Says Shobha Gollarahatti, “I am an anganawadi teacher but because of this custom, I am not able to go on duty for five days every month during my periods. I have also tried to undergo surgery to remove my uterus but the doctor refused to operate owing to my age.”
The custom practiced in the community is so rigid that the women are not able to even use the autorickshaws in their village when going to hospitals during their periods or after their delivery. When living outside , food is served to them by people who make sure they don’t come into contact with their bodies.
“Everybody speaks about abolishing the practice but nobody takes it seriously enough to end it. So, we continue to be victims,” complains another village woman, Mahadevamma. In all, there are 250 Kaadu Golla families in the village which are bound by this old and meaningless custom. When contacted, Ms Manjula Manasa, head of the state women’s commission, said she would like to take steps to put end to the practice.
“I will discuss the matter with the state government after getting reports from the officials concerned about this custom in vogue in this village,” she assured.
