SC women claim they had gone to Hassan shrine to offer prayers
Dalit women were driven out of this temple at Singaranhalli in Hassan district
HASSAN: Women belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) residing at Singaranahalli in Holenarsipur taluk of Hassan district have alleged that they were driven out of Basaveshwara Temple in the village by members of Vokkaliga community who claimed they had desecrated the shrine by entering it a week ago.
These women have brought the matter to the notice of the authorities and demanded action against the culprits under the law. At the village, around 300 families are Vokkaligas and 30 are SC families.
According to the aggrieved women –Tayamma, Padamma, Sanamma and Tangayamma- they had gone to Basaveshwara Temple to offer prayers on August 31 since they had secured a loan from a bank. They were sitting at the temple when they were reportedly taken to task by Devaraj, a Vokkaliga, who, according to the women, abused them for entering the temple.
The women quoted Devaraj as saying that they had been barred from entering the temple since they were born in a lower caste. He said that for the same reason, they had been barred from preparing mid-day meals at the school. Devaraj was joined by another villager Boregowda who told the women that they had made a mistake by entering the temple.
The aggrieved women on September 1 approached elder citizens and narrated to them the humiliating treatment. But, these women found no help from the villagers. They then approached the authorities including police officials seeking justice. District Social Welfare officer Purushotham and senior officials visited the spot to hold a meeting and find a solution. Since no Vokkaliga community member attended the meeting, it was postponed to Tuesday.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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