Boudh: In a bizarre incident, the body of an elderly woman remained unattended for over four hours as none of her family members or relatives came forward to perform her last rites due to societal pressures stemming from her inter-caste marriage.
Sata Majhi, a 55-year-old woman from Baghamunda village in the Boudh district, passed away on Saturday. However, her body was lying unattended as she married a person from a different caste.
The woman, who was married to Jatiya Majhi from the village outside of her caste, had been a widow for 25 years. She lived with her unmarried daughter, Sadhe Majhi, at home. The family and villagers initially refused to touch her body, adhering to traditional caste norms.
Social activists from the Palsagora area, including Shitikant Mishra, Asim Abhishek Panda, Ansuman and others intervened and the body was finally cremated in the village cremation ground. The selfless service of these young volunteers has been widely praised in the district. Their action highlighted the need for social change and acceptance beyond caste boundaries.
