3 menstruating women locked by villagers in Karnataka, released by officials

Three menstruating women belonging to the Golla community were locked in a room outside a village in Karnataka's Tumakuru district on September 16.

They included an Anganwadi worker, Sujatha, a midday meal cook Savitramma, and another woman. They were isolated by the community as they were menstruating.

According to officials, the Golla community in Tumakuru still isolates women during menstruation. The practice continues despite awareness programmes and campaigns being conducted.

Acting on a tip-off, district officials raided the village and released the three.

“The district administration took the issue seriously and instructed all tahsildars to visit Kadu Golla colonies. Surprise visits will be done to check this practice,” Gubbi taluk magistrate and tahsildar B Arathi said, as per Hindustan Times. She said that in many colonies with educated women, such discrimination does not take place.

“However, in a few colonies, this practice still exists. We will take stern action against such practice. We are organising awareness campaigns and meetings regularly to eradicate this,” she added.

The community believes that menstruating women and pregnant women are 'sutak' (inauspicious) and keeps them away from the village.