YADADRI BHUVANAGIRI: In yet another incident of social boycott of backward communities, nearly 50 families of Gouds (toddy-tappers) were ostracised by villagers for opposing setting up of belt shops in the village.
Apart from stopping water supply to them, the villagers, led by E Nagi Reddy, the husband of village sarpanch Laxmi, asked the local Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) not to treat the Gouds’ family members.
The incident took place at Katepalli village in Motakondur mandal in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district.
According to reports reaching here, the local toddy-tappers used to participate in auctions for setting up of belt shops in the village for several years. There are six belt shops in the village. With the government encouraging toddy- tapping in a big way, the Goud community in the village has decided not to participate in the auction for running the belt shops this year and told the same to the villagers.
“We do not want to run the belt shops anymore and, instead, promote toddy which is not much harmful to the health of the consumers. That is why we did not participate in the auction,” local community leader Narasimha Goud said.
Over the years, some of the money raised through auction of belt shops is being used for developmental works in the villages. With Gouds not coming forward, the village would lose revenue, village elders felt. The Goud community also stopped a fellow villager of another community from participating in the auction. This infuriated the village elders and they ostracised the Gouds.
An announcement was made in the village asking people not to share water with Gouds. “The filter house, from where water can be drawn, was locked so that we do not get water,’’ Narasimha Goud alleged. The local RMP was asked not to treat Goud community members.