Manipuri girls told not to wear short skirts in schools, colleges

Student organizations in Manipur have directed girls not to wear uniforms above the knee and avoid using mobile phones in schools and colleges.

Six student bodies issued the notice on Tuesday that sought to ban school and college students from wearing “indecent dresses”.

The student bodies including All Manipur Students Union, Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur and Manipur Students Federation formed a coordination committee to launch the drive, a joint statement said here.

They said girl students should wear the ethnic Manipuri ankle length dress ‘Phanek’ and under no condition uniforms above the knee will be accepted.
Use of mobile phones during school or college hours will be forbidden.
Sale of intoxicating substances at academic institutions would also be banned, the statement said.

In 2001, Manipuri rebel group KYKL, fighting for an independent homeland for the predominantly Hindu Metei community, had warned that women of the state who do not wear the traditional sarongs called ‘Phaneks’ could face a death penalty.