Virtually endorsing the verdict of Birohar 12 khap panchayat banning wearing of jeans by school and college going girls, women leaders of various social and political outfits have said that girl students must follow the dress code of their educational institutes instead of wearing jeans and T-shirt in schools and colleges.
The Birohar khap of 12 villages in Jhajjar district had, on Sunday, proscribed wearing of jeans by girl students stating that objectionable dress was the root cause of rising incidents of eve teasing and molestation in the region. The khap panchayat was of the view that attire likes jeans or pants by the girls provoke the boys for eve-teasing and encourages young couples to elope hence ban on wearing such attire is needed to prevent the incidents of eve teasing and other crime against women.
Describing the ‘dress code’ for girl students as ‘appropriate’, Kusum Sharma, chief of women wing of Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC), said besides extending subjective knowledge, educational institutes also inculcate moral values among their students and it can be acquired by maintaining discipline. Since dress code was also the part of the educational system hence both girls and boys must follow this without any objection, she added.
“Merely ban on wearing jeans by girl students is not the firm solution towards checking eve-teasing, molestation and rape like crime against women, we shall have to bring change in our mentality to prevent such incidents. Khap panchayats, social and political outfits should make the people aware in this direction to achieve the aim,” said Kusum Sharma.
Sudesh Kumari, a social activist and office bearer of a women outfit, said the khap panchayat had taken right decision to ban the girl students from wearing jeans as this sort of attire worked for deteriorating the atmosphere and decorum of the educational institutes. “Since the educational institutes are not a picnic spot hence wearing jeans and t-shirt by the girl students can not be termed as ‘appropriate’ in any manner because girls go to schools/ colleges to study and gain knowledge hence they should respect the dress code imposed by the institutes. She, however, said this can not be fully accountable for rising trend of eve-teasing, molestation and rape in the region.
Urmil Bhardwaj, another woman leader, said she respects the decision of khap panchayat but does not fully agree with the plea that wearing jeans and t-shirt is the root-cause for eve-teasing, molestation and rapes. “How can you hold attire of girls responsible for crime against women when girl children are persistently being raped in the regionIJ Jeans is not the root-cause of this problem, the problem is in our mindset which should be changed to prevent crime against women,” said Urmil.
Usha Chaudhary, general secretary of Haryana Youth Congress, said objectionable attire being worn by girls was one of the major causes of rising incidents of eve-teasing and molestation hence the khap’s verdict wearing jeans and T-shirt was justified to some extent.
“Attire like jeans and tops beyond question provoke the young boys for eve-teasing. Though eve-teasing was prevalent earlier also, but incidents have risen many fold during last decade just due to objectionable dress of the girls,” said Usha.