8 Teli families allege ostracisation for inter-caste marriages

Koraput: Eight families from the Teli community in Rayagada district’s Padmapur area on Monday submitted a memorandum to the district administration seeking urgent intervention alleging social boycott by the community for inter-caste marriages within their families.

According to the complaint, those affected are facing social isolation along with mental and financial harassment. Community members have allegedly been warned against maintaining any contact with them, and the families claimed they are being excluded from feasts, social gatherings and other events.

The eight families raised the issue at the district grievance cell organised in Gudari block on Monday and submitted a memorandum to additional district magistrate Nabin Chandra Nayak, seeking immediate administrative action.

“We are being treated as outcasts only because marriages took place outside caste norms. We are facing continuous mental and social harassment,” alleged Jaydev Sahu, one of the affected persons.

However, Arya Tailik Baishya Samaj (Padmapur) president Soura Sahu defended the action, claiming it was in line with community traditions. “The decisions are taken collectively by presidents and representatives of different units of the organisation in accordance with caste norms,” he said.

Officials said efforts are on to defuse the situation through dialogue. “It has been decided to form a committee to inquire into the matter and hold discussions with both the association and the affected families,” said Gunupur sub-collector Dudhal Abhishek Dillip.