Girl students protest dress code in Puducherry

January 10, 2013: Students in Puducherry in Southern India, are protesting the union territory’s plan to make overcoats compulsory for girls in schools as a solution to check crime against women.

The government drew up the action plan to protect girl students after a minor girl was kidnapped and raped on a bus last week.

Besides the dress code, it also planned to operate exclusive buses for girls and instructed schools to effectively implement the existing ban on mobile phones on school campuses and to institute parent-teacher associations.

On Monday, members of the Student Federation of India protested at the office of the Director of School Education against the move.

Women rights activists too are up in arms with many saying that the government is tacitly making women responsible for sexual offences perpetrated against them.

"Again and again the ruling class only blames the women. They are making the women shoulder all the responsibility for sexual crimes against them,” said Malathi Maithri, a social activist.

She said that the dress code will not solve the problem. “Our school system and family system have to be changed. The syllabus has to be changed, gender sensitive study has to be given to school children," she added.

After the public outcry, the Puducherry government is now having second thoughts about the dress code.

E Vallavan, Director of School Education, said, "this has just been suggested and is being considered. When student bodies object, it's certainly subject to review and the government has no plans to thrust this."

The government also plans to introduce sex education in schools.