This Sarpanch Candidate Takes Up Cudgels Against Sexual Exploitation Of Women In Odisha’s Kalahandi

Bhawanipatna: The three-tier panchayat elections in Odisha are turning out to be interesting with several young contestants trying their luck this time.

Politics and elections might be new for them but they surely have a strong fan following in their respective areas owing to their social work.

One such candidate is Hasina Nag of Salepali panchayat in Kalahandi, district. Nag who is contesting for the Sarpanch post, had shown courage by pressing sexual assault charges on the then sarpanch.

Two years since the case, Hasina still cannot forget the times and hopes to win the elections to wipe out such crimes from the society.

Hasina has filed nomination for sarpanch post from Salepali panchayat after the post was reserved for SC women after the incident.

The 26-year-old’s story made it to the headlines in 2019 when she lodged a complaint against then sarpanch Ramesh Chandra Sahu accusing him of seeking sexual favours from her for sanctioning a house under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana (PMAY-G). Sahu was removed from the sarpanch post after an investigation and is still facing trial.

I am determined to leave the incident behind and win the elections this time to ensure that poor people do not get exploited at the hands of the rich, Hasina was quoted by The New Indian Express.

Hasina is a B Tech from a private engineering college in Bhubaneswar and has been able to make a space for herself in the society by speaking up against evils haunting women in the society.