Berhampur: In a heartbreaking plea highlighting the prevailing practice of social ostracism in rural Odisha, a resident of Babulibandha village in Ganjam’s Digapahandi block on Monday approached district authorities seeking permission for euthanasia for himself and his family, citing over four years of alleged boycott by fellow villagers.
During a public grievance meeting, Santosh Behera narrated his ordeal before senior officials, including Ganjam Collector V Keerthi Vasan, SP Suvendu Kumar Patra and Block Development Officer, and Tehsildar. He accused villagers of imposing a complete social boycott on his family, resulting in profound mental distress.
According to Behera, the family has been excluded from community feasts, weddings, funerals, and other social or religious events. He claimed that anyone in the village who interacts with them faces a fine of Rs 500.
The alleged ostracism reportedly stemmed from his sister-in-law, Ranju Behera, contesting the 2022 panchayat elections for the post of sarpanch which she lost to Priyanka Nayak by a margin of 17 votes.
Behera stated that certain influential groups initiated the boycott following her defeat in the polls. He further recounted previous attempts to seek redress, including an appeal to the Ganjam Collector who had then advised him to file a police complaint. He alleged that no concrete action, however, was taken on his complaint.
Feeling cornered with no resolution in sight, Behera said he was left with no option but to request official permission for mercy killing as a means to end their suffering.
Sources said the Collector has instruction for constituting a peace committee in the village to resolve the issue. He also assured him that the matter would be taken up seriously.
