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.