A disturbing case of caste-based discrimination has surfaced in Akouna Gram Panchayat, located in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. Shraddha Singh, the first Dalit woman to be elected as Sarpanch in this Thakur-majority area, has reportedly been subjected to continuous humiliation and disrespect.
The most recent incident occurred on Independence Day, August 15, when Shraddha was prevented from hoisting the national flag at the Gram Panchayat. In a letter to the Panchayat and Rural Development Minister, Prahlad Singh Patel, Shraddha detailed how she was supposed to hoist the flag according to state government orders. She had informed Panchayat Secretary Vijay Pratap Singh about this, but when she arrived at the Panchayat premises, Deputy Sarpanch Dharmendra Singh had already hoisted the flag.
Shraddha believes this act was not just because she is a woman but was a deliberate attempt to undermine her authority due to her Dalit identity. She described the incident as a clear case of conspiracy and insult against her.
In an interview with The Mooknayak, Shraddha, 28, recounted further humiliation during a Gram Sabha meeting on August 17. When she requested a chair, both the Deputy Sarpanch and the Secretary refused her, telling her, “If you want a chair, bring it from home; otherwise, sit on the ground or remain standing.”
This was not an isolated incident. Since being elected as Sarpanch in July 2022, Shraddha has faced ongoing discrimination. Despite winning the election by a narrow margin of 58 votes, she has been met with resistance from the upper-caste members of the village, who have tried to obstruct her work at every turn.
Shraddha expressed her deep hurt over these continuous humiliations but remains determined to fight against the injustice. She has lodged complaints with the District Collector, the Madhya Pradesh Sarpanch Association, and the Panchayati Raj Council. She mentioned that a meeting is scheduled in Bhopal on September 5, where she plans to demand disciplinary action against those responsible for caste-based discrimination.
In response to this incident, Advocate Vijaykumar Azad of Bhim Army – Bharat Ekta Mission announced that protests and memorandums would be organized across all districts to bring attention to the issue.
