Twitter
Advertisement

Tamil Nadu rape victim contests panchayat president polls

The country might soon have a woman village head who has undergone the worst kind of physical and mental trauma.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin
The country might soon have a woman village head who has undergone the worst kind of physical and mental trauma. One of the rape victims of the infamous Vachati village in Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu is contesting from P Thathampatti for the post of panchayat president. She is being supported  by the CPI(M) as well as various human right organisations.
 
“It is our way of telling the world that it is possible for women to get back to their normal state of mind without any  traces of the trauma. I am sure she will come out with flying colours in the election. Once it is over, it is for her to prove the world that she is the kind of person whom they want,” Prof Manimeghalai, department of women studies, Bharatidasan University, Trichi told DNA.   
 
The 36-year-old woman will contest from P Thathampatti, which comprises Vachathi, Mallakuttai, Malagappadi, T Pudur and Kookudappatti hamlets. The candidate made it clear that her move is to wipe out the bad name brought to the village by atrocities committed on tribals by officials in 1992.
 
Last Thursday, the principal judge of Dharmapuri sentenced 215 men from police, forest and revenue department to jail terms ranging from one to 10 years for atrocities on tribals at Vachathi during a raid for smuggled sandalwood held on June 20, 1992.
 
A total of about 4,800 electorate would cast their votes for the poll, in which three more ladies from P Thatahampatti village in the fray. P Dillybabu, a CPI(M) MLA and who waged the war on behalf of the Vachathi villagers  said other rape victims were  campaigning in villages which come under P Thathampatti panchayat to gather support for the woman.
 
Prof Manimeghalai also said that the Thathampatti Experience from Tamil Nadu could be a role model for women who wants to come out of any kind of trauma. “It will help us to get over the Tirumangalam Experience when votes were openly purchased by political parties by openly bribing voters,” she said.
Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement