Dalit woman sarpanch faces discrimination in Thakur-dominated village
Satna: Shraddha Singh, the first Dalit woman elected as Sarpanch of Akouna Gram Panchayat in Satna district, Madhya Pradesh, has reportedly been subjected to repeated humiliation by local officials. The issue gained attention when she was prevented from hoisting the national flag on Independence Day, August 15.
Despite state government orders that the Sarpanch should hoist the flag, Shraddha arrived at the Panchayat premises only to find that Deputy Sarpanch Dharmendra Singh Baghel had already carried out the ceremony. Shraddha, who belongs to the Dalit community, described the incident as a deliberate conspiracy and an insult aimed at her because of her caste.
The discrimination continued during a Gram Sabha meeting on August 17, where Shraddha was denied a chair and told to bring one from home or stand. This incident, she revealed, is part of a pattern of ongoing humiliation and obstacles she has faced since taking office in July 2022.
With about 50% of the village's 1,600 voters belonging to the Thakur community, Shraddha’s election win by a margin of just 58 votes has not been well-received by some in the community. Despite facing such hostility, Shraddha remains determined to fight against the discrimination and continue her work for the village's development.
Shraddha has lodged formal complaints with the District Collector, Madhya Pradesh Sarpanch Association, and the Panchayati Raj Council, and a meeting on the matter is scheduled in Bhopal on September 5. She is demanding disciplinary action against the officials responsible for the caste-based discrimination.
Advocate Vijaykumar Azad of Bhim Army - Bharat Ekta Mission has announced plans for protests and the submission of memorandums across all districts to draw attention to this injustice. The response from state authorities and the Panchayat and Rural Development Minister is awaited.
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Over 1 lakh students appear for NEET across TN
Chennai (PTI): About 1.4 lakh students appeared for the NEET 2026 exam for admission to medical degree courses across 31 centres in Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
Students claimed that the exam paper was easier than the previous year.
Organised by the National Testing Agency (NTA), 22.80 lakh students had registered for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) undergraduate exam nationwide.
NTA sources said that CCTV surveillance was installed at all examination centres, with feeds linked to centralised control rooms.
In view of the large candidate volume and prevailing summer conditions, the NTA ensured reliable power back-up, including generators at all centres, to ensure candidate comfort during the exam. Also, drinking water and on-site medical support were provided to students.
The sources further said that no malpractices were reported, especially in Chennai. The results of NEET are expected to be declared in June, 2026.
