RANCHI: Betrothed to eligible men in Jharkhand before the state was carved out of Bihar 22 years ago, these ‘bahus’ after decades of living in their new homes, suddenly find themselves as ‘political outcasts’ after a state government order.
Dozens of women intending to fight in the upcoming panchayat polls have been barred from contesting the upcoming panchayat polls in Jharkhand after a scrutiny revealed that they produced caste certificates issued by Bihar and other state governments, which are now unacceptable in Jharkhand.
Meet Cathreen Tudu, 43, whose nomination for the post of mukhiya from the Karmatar panchayat of Godda district was rejected during scrutiny on April 25. Hailing from Bihar’s Purnia district, Tudu was married in 1989 and belongs to the Santhal tribe.
“The government’s policy is unjust and marginalizes women in politics. I have the support of my panchayat and will fight this injustice,” she said.
Her problems surfaced after the government decided to implement a January 10, 2019 order of the state government for the upcoming panchayat polls in the state. The order sent to all departments, including the Panchayati Raj Institute, bans caste certificates issued by other states for government jobs.
At least 40 contenders, including five for mukhiya and 35 ward members from Jamua in Giridih district were recently barred from contesting the polls after they produced caste certificates issued by the Bihar government.
In another case from the same area, one Rebeka Marandi contested the panchayat samiti election in 2015 and emerged victorious from the Chandana panchayat. But on April 26 this year, Marandi’s nomination for the same post was rejected during scrutiny. Married in 2012, Rebeka says, “I am from Bihar’s Banka district, but my home is Jharkhand now. While women in the country from distinct cultures and religions have to leave their parental homes after marriage, the state machinery and institution have reduced us to migrants, by stripping our basic rights and dignity.”
Additional collector of Simdega, Amrendra Kumar Sinha, sounded helpless, “Jharkhand does not allow any reservation to people from outside the state irrespective of their caste category. Therefore, women of other states from any reserved category and those married to Jharkhand men cannot contest on reserved seats,” he said.
