Andhra Pradesh

Benefits of reforms still elude them

Muramunda (East Godavari): Social stigma that struck to a particular community and a village continues to bog down the people of the community for many years.

The village is Peddapuram, known for flesh trade, and the community is ‘Kalavantulu’. Though the trade is continuing in Peddapuram, the particular community has slowly migrated to other places. Some of them have switched over to other occupations.

About 70 families of ‘Kalavantulu’ have migrated to the village Muramunda from Peddapuram long ago, which is, about 35 km from Rajahmundry.

The women from the community continued flesh trade in the village after their migration. They have remained unmarried. Their ‘children’ suffered humiliation in society.

“When I joined a school, my teacher and friends asked me about my father and they laughed at me. But, I continued my studies and completed graduation,” says Swaroopa Rani of the village.

Police harassment, political pressure, diseases like HIV/AIDS and other factors have forced the younger generation to leave the ‘profession’.

They have decided to come out of the clutches and lead a decent life. “Five of the community have completed their graduation,” says Y. Yerrababu, a social worker.

Eight months ago, some youths from the village approached district Nodal Officer of APSACS and other revenue officials for jobs. The DRDA in principle agreed to support them.

They called applications from the eligible to advance loans for starting businesses. However, later, they refused to advance loans on one pretext or the other, according to the youths. “When we first met the officials, the response was good.

But, later they changed their attitude. One of the officers asked me to continue the flesh trade and earn more,” says Kotipalli Venkatalakshmi.

“When the government is extending all support to surrendered naxalites, why not to us? Society is still forcing us to continue the trade,” laments Kotipalli Sujatha, a graduate.

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