'Old diktat, new controversy': Sonipat village panchayat order banning jeans and mobile phones for women not new

Ishapur Kheri (Sonipat): The female residents of Ishapur Kheri village in Haryana, 120 km from the national Capital, were startled when some mediapersons visited them last week seeking their views on the Sarpanch’s (village head) order of banning jeans and mobile phones for women. The diktat -- that have made to the national headlines lately -- was not new to them and many of them have been following it for the past one year.

“It had been announced earlier in 2017. It is not just jeans or mobile phones, we are not even allowed to wear make-up and high heels in public. So, the announcement did not shock us,” said Pooja Malik, 21, a second year student. She travels alone for 14-km by a local bus to the nearest degree college in Gohana. She is not allowed to carry a mobile phone.

Sarpanch Prem Singh, 63, had issued the diktat during a mahapanchayat after three girls from the village eloped with boys of a neighbouring village last year. For him, the reason behind them taking the extreme step was that they used mobile phones and wore jeans. “I was approached by more than 100 people to take some decision after the shame those girls brought to our village. They suggested me to ban mobile phones and western clothes for girls. We held a panchayat and unanimously passed the order,” he said. An announcer was hired to inform the villagers about the decision.

“Dhindhora peeta gaya tha ke aaj se school aur college ki ladkiyo ka jeans pehanna aur mobile istemal karna mana hai,” said Neeraj Malik, a Class 11 student at the only Senior Secondary Government School for girls located at a distance of one km from the village. Neeraj and her two sisters are not allowed to wear jeans since then.

“All this started with three girls running away with boys they loved. Actually love is not allowed here. It’s seen as a shame. They had no choice but to elope,” said Shashi, a second year BA student. She is also not allowed to wear jeans. “I think jeans are empowering,” she said.

Backing the sentiment, another girl who wishes to remain anonymous said, “One of those three girls was my friend. I know how her family is. She could not even dare to tell them about the guy. So she eloped.” “But how can wearing salwar kameez or not using phones will stop women to love?” she asked.

A local web portal had then covered the issue and uploaded a video on the YouTube on July 19, 2017. Almost a year down the line, the same video is making rounds on Whatsapp groups across the district. 

“Several people have visited us in the past one week. I don’t know why they are raising it now? And what’s wrong with what I said? Somebody is trying to bring a bad name to the village by circulating wrong information about what I say. I just asked the villagers to control their daughters. This is not a khap panchayat. I’m an elected Sarpanch and they are my daughters as well,” Singh said.

Another Panchayat member Ram Nivas said, “We don’t want this media attention. People sitting in Delhi can’t understand our issues. We are just urging people. It’s their choice to follow or not.”

Some panchayat members, however, opposed the decision. “I have asked the Sarpanch several times not to make such regressive announcements. He is just Class X pass and doesn’t understand things. Why should we ban things for our girls when they are doing so well in studies,” said Anil Malik, a Panch.

Several families have decided not to impose the rule on their daughters. “There is no point of keeping girls away from mobile phones in this age of the internet. Nobody in my family knows English but my daughter is studying in an English medium school. She often needs the help of the internet,” said  Sanjay Malik, a farmer.

Meanwhile, Anu Malik, 17, a class XIth student and the only girl who rides a bike in the village said, “I love wearing jeans and I won’t stop. Even my parents have recently got me two pair of jeans.”

BLAST FROM THE PAST

• In July last year, a panchayat in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli banned boys from wearing shorts in public.In the same month, Baldiyapur village panchayat in Rajasthan banned jeans for girls to erase social evils.
   
• Last year, in another village of Uttar Pradesh, the panchayat announced a fine of Rs 2,100 on girls for using mobile phones.
   
• In 2012, the Khap Panchayat in Haryana’s Jind Chachhar village banned chow mien saying it led to hormonal imbalance among men who in turn raped women.