Women security more important than removing veil: Activists
DEMAND They say larger issues such as ensuring women’s rights and changing mindset of men need to be tackled
JAIPUR: Women leaders and activists say at a time when a series of brutal rapes have taken place in the state, the issue of women’s security is more important than chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s call to throw off the veil.
Gehlot has on several recent occasions drawn attention to the need t o end t he practice of ghoonghat (veil) and burqa, saying it is a custom of a bygone era and is a hindrance in empowering women. He also called for a ‘ghoonghat hatao’ campaign to be launched.
Though in agreement with Gehlot, activists say merely throwing off the veil will not empower women. They point out that larger issues need to be tackled such as ensuring women’s rights and changing the mindset of men.
As per the NCRB 2017 data, Rajasthan had the second highest number of rape cases in the country, registering 3,305 cases. Rajasthan police data reveals a 66% ri se i n crimes against women between January and July 2019 as compared to the same period last year.
According to the 2011 census, Rajasthan’s sex ratio is 928 while the child sex ratio (0-6 years) is 888. The literacy rate or females is 52.1 and the work participation rate for females is 35.1. The NFHS-4 data shows that 36% child marriages takes place in Rajasthan.
Kavita Srivastava, secretary of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, voiced opposition to the practice of veil and said it has nothing to do with choice. “Anything forced is bondage and all such tradition needs to be questioned.”
She also questioned what the government is doing to provide an enabling environment to women. “When women break tradition, what support structures is the government providing?” she asked.
“Institutional mechanisms such as the women’s commission, women’s desks at police stations, counselling centres for women, helplines, zila sahayata samitis are all defunct,” she said.
Suman Devathiya, Rajasthan secretary of the Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch, said the veil cannot be a choice.
“Not taking the burqa or ghoonghat can be a choice. The government should empower girls so that they don’t reach a stage where they have to veil themselves,” she said.
Devathiya said the veil is just one aspect of women’s empowerment and the larger issue is that of patriarchy and the need to change the mindset of men.
“The government has to ensure that they get political rights, education, health and security. Men want to assert their power and ownership over women and no one questions that. In the name of culture and tradition, the rights of women are violated.”
BJP leader Suman Sharma welcomed the CM’S statement but said when women ‘unveil’, they should not be exposed to violence and harassment.
“The chief minister cannot shirk his responsibility by merely giving statements. He has failed to fulfil his responsibility to ensure women’s safety,” said Sharma, who was the state women’s commission chairperson in the previous BJP government.
“A 6-year-old girl is brutally raped and killed in the state and there have been several heinous rape incidents in Thanagazi, Sikar, Jaipur and other parts of the state. There is no guarantee of women’s safety,” she said.
BJP MP Diya Kumari had a different line of thought. She said that taking the ghoonghat or burqa is the personal choice of a woman and no one should comment on it.
Diya Kumari, a member of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family, said women who veil themselves do it out of choice.
“They do it out of respect for elders and there is no coercion. It is a part of our culture and tradition.”
Kumari said the chief minister should focus on bigger issues concerning women. “Women’s safety is a major issue in Rajasthan. Crimes against women have been consistently rising but the government has failed to curb that,” she said.
Rehana Riyaz, state Congress women’s cell head, said with changing times, people must change. “Today when women are working alongside men in all spheres, there is no place for rigid thinking. Elders should cooperate and encourage women to throw off their veils.”
She said women’s safety is a cause of concern for everyone. “The government and society must be aware and sensitive to this issue. The government is t a ki ng e f f e c t i ve s t e ps for women.”
Nishat Hussain, Rajasthan head of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, said Gehlot’s statement reflected his progressive thinking but taking the veil is a personal choice.
She said the larger issue was to change the mindset of men. “Men think of women as their property and when they assert themselves and demand their rights, women are put behind the veil.”