MLA KB Ganesh Kumar has issued a stern warning to staff members of the Pathanapuram block panchayat after recently elected panchayat president A Anandavally faced casteist insults.
“Those hurling casteist insults on Anandavally will not be tolerated and such people have to face severe consequences if they continue it,” Kumar said, adding that she comes from a humble Dalit background and rose to high ranks in public service. “From a temporary sweeper, people chose her to head the block panchayat. Those continuing to inflict this ordeal on Anandavally would pay a heavy price,” he warned the office staff.
Reports emerged that Anandavally had approached Kumar, who is the area MLA, after facing grave issues at work daily. Reportedly, Anandavally said that the staffs of her own office have a hostile attitude towards her. She added that she was shown no respect and often, rumours about her were circulated.
Anandavally story is inspirational. She was elected as the panchayat president of the very office she used to work as cleaning staff. She was sworn in as panchayat president on December 30, 2020. Anandavally is a block member of the CPI (M) and it is painful to see caste discrimination still alive in a progressive state such as Kerala.
