E Sangeetha, a 40-year-old tribal Irular woman serving as the Panchayat President of Anangur village in Gingee Taluk, protested outside the District Collector’s office in Villupuram on 2 October 2024, demanding action against caste discrimination allegedly perpetrated by the deputy panchayat president, Chitra Gunasekaran, and her husband, Gunasekaran. In addition to her protest, Sangeetha boycotted the Gram Sabha meeting held on Gandhi Jayanti to voice her demand for justice.
Sangeetha had lodged formal complaints with the District Collector on two occasions, in July and August, accusing the deputy president and her husband of discriminatory practices at the panchayat office. She stated, “The couple restrained me from doing my duties, openly called out caste slurs against me when I was in public meetings and inspections. They also refused to provide me access to the digital key (a digital password) to log in the government website to approve fund allotment for several panchayat projects. I’m extremely affected by this, mentally. My woes have fallen on deaf ears since the district collector has not done anything fruitful to stop them from abusing me using my caste.”
Following her August complaint, District Collector C Palani reported an inspection at the panchayat office, where he instructed the deputy to grant Sangeetha access to the digital key. However, he stated that no evidence of discrimination, such as denying her a chair, was found.
Despite these developments, Sangeetha claimed that she continues to face verbal and habitual caste abuse from the duo, who reportedly insist on calling her by her caste name and request her to leave inspection sites for MGNREGA projects.
In response to the ongoing situation, Villupuram MP D Ravikumar remarked that he was aware of the protest and would investigate the matter. However, following her protest outside the District Collectorate on 2 October 2024, she has been booked under multiple sections of the BNS Act.
Sangeetha has accused her deputy, Chitra Gunasekaran, and her husband, Gunasekaran—a local DMK branch secretary—of harassment and obstructing her official duties since she assumed office three years ago. As the first Irular woman to hold this panchayat president position in her village, she has made formal complaints to the District Collector twice, in July and August. Still, she claims no action has been taken against the couple.
In her complaints, Sangeetha stated, “Chitra, my subordinate, along with her husband, has refused to provide me with the digital key needed to approve salaries and allocate funds for basic amenities like laying water pipes and roads. They’ve also used my tribal identity to abuse and demean me in public meetings.” She further alleged that Chitra told her, “You, an Irular woman, do not deserve to sit in the Panchayat President’s chair,” and threatened her with physical harm if she interfered in administrative matters.
Despite multiple appeals to local authorities, Sangeetha reported that she has received no concrete response to her concerns and has even faced threats to her life, resulting in severe mental distress. Although District Collector C. Palani ordered an inquiry in response to her August complaint and directed that Sangeetha be given access to the digital key, he has not contacted her directly or inspected the situation since then.
Sangeetha claims that the verbal and habitual caste abuse from the deputy president and her husband continues, as they reportedly insist on calling her by her caste name and demand she leaves inspection sites for MGNREGA projects.
Following her protest, police have charged Sangeetha under Sections 223, 292, and 126 (2) of the BNS Act, in accordance with a recent directive mandating arrests for agitations held without proper police permission outside Collectorate campuses. Superintendent of Police Deepak Siwach stated, “We are looking into the issue and will verify the facts.”
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