Bhubaneswar, March 13 (IANS) At a time the country is set to empower its women by giving them 33 percent reservation in legislatures, a woman farmer in Orissa has been dumped by her husband for going to New Delhi with male officials to receive a national award.

Mathura Sabar, 40, a tribal woman from Kusumjor village in Kalahandi district, was refused entry into her house by her husband for accompanying state officials to New Delhi to receive an award for successful mushroom farming from union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Feb 26.

The mother of five was among 101 farmers selected from across the country to receive this award. She was accompanied by the joint director of state government and four other officials.

However, the joy of receiving an award was short-lived as her husband Ratan did not let her enter the house when she returned.

'When I came back from Delhi my husband refused to allow me inside the house. I am clueless as to where I should go,' Mathura, sarpanch of Rishagaon panchayat from 1997-2002, who currently runs a women's self help group in the area, told IANS.

'My husband is questioning my character. But I had taken his permission before I went to Delhi,' she said.

The district agriculture officials, who had recommended her name to the agriculture ministry for the award, are unable to help her.

'We had recommended her name to the agriculture ministry as a successful mushroom farmer. We made every effort so that she can go to New Delhi and receive that award. I got to know that her husband is not allowing her inside the house. What can we do if her husband does not accept her? Our job ended after she returned home without any trouble,' P. Sethi, assistant director of agriculture, told IANS.

Even repeated requests failed to convince Mathura's husband, who works as a labourer.

'I pleaded with him. Villagers also tried to convince him. But he has refused to listen,' Mathura, who now lives with her parents, said.

She does not feel helpless but is shocked at her husband's irrational allegations.

'I don't need my husband's money as I am independent. But I don't understand the reason why he disowned me. It's so silly,' she said.