No skirts for MP girls

[ Times News Network, 25 Jun, 2006 ]

BHOPAL: Moral police is on the prowl in Madhya Pradesh. A fortnight after a ban on fashion shows in government-run colleges, the women's commission of the state is considering a dress code for girls in educational institutions.

"The commission has suggested a ban on the wearing of skirts in schools and colleges and a strict dress code to control incidents of crime against women," an official source said.

Some members of the Madhya Pradesh Women's Commission have gone on record favouring the proposal. "A proposal envisaging a ban on skirts is ready and it would soon be sent to the government," commission member Sushma Arya told.

"Girls should not dress up in a way that could invite trouble. It (the proposal) is for their safety," she added.

The commission's chairperson, Relam Chauhan, however, said: "We don't want skirts to be banned but we are certainly against short skirts. We would be taking appropriate steps in this regards soon."

On June 8, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had banned fashion shows in the government-run girls' colleges stating that they were an invasion of "western culture", even as many students termed the move as a violation on their freedom of choice.

"What is the justification behind imposing a ban on fashion shows when such events are held in other states routinely," asked Monica Nigam, a graduate student.

"It would hamper the chances of the state's girls at beauty pageants and contests at the national and international levels," she said.

Arya, however, disagreed with the student saying: "Beauty has nothing to do with girls' costumes. They look more beautiful in traditional clothes."