UP panchayat brings in dress code for girls

Bars them from wearing 'provocative clothes', no rooms on rent for boys

A few months ago, a village panchayat in Muzaffarnagar district had banned wearing of jeans and use of mobile phones by girls terming them as symbols of social evils.

Another panchayat at Kurali village in UP’s Meerut district, about 450 kilometers from here, barred girls from wearing ‘provocative dresses’, saying  they encourage eve teasing, molestation and rape.

The panchayat supported the earlier ban on jeans, top and carrying mobile phones and asked parents to make sure that the directives were strictly complied with.

Strict action

“Those not adhering to the ban will be dealt with sternly,” said Manoj Kurali, presiding over the panchayat meeting.

The panchayat also asked village folks not to rent out rooms to the college students as they tend to spoil the village environment and also sexually harass local girls.

The panchayat, that deliberated on several issues for hours, also decided to launch a drive against the local illegal liquor sellers and asked the members to apprehend them and hand them over to the police.

A 30-member committee was also set up by the panchayat to ensure compliance of its directive.

Panchayats in UP are infamous for their bizarre decisions and directives.

In the past also, they have acted as moral police and enforced archaic laws, specially with regard to the womenfolk.

In Muzaffarnagar district, a panchayat had banned wearing of jeans and tops by the girls.

A few days after that, girls’ groups in some villages burnt jeans and tops and took a pledge not to use cell phones.