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36 years after law, girls still forced into devadasi custom
News:
Girls are forced into devadasi custom in Karnataka
Devadasi System – Devadasi system is a religious practice in parts of southern India, including Andhra Pradesh, whereby parents marry a daughter to a deity or a temple. The marriage usually occurs before the girl reaches puberty and requires the girl to become a prostitute for upper-caste community members. Such girls are known as jogini. They are forbidden to enter into a real marriage.
Important Facts:
- Karnataka Devadasis (Prohibition of Dedication) Act of 1982 was passed to prevent dedication of women as devadasis in the State of Karnataka but state Government is yet to bring rule for administering the laws.
- The practice of devadasi still prevalent in other states such as in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and in Goa.
Reasons for its prevalence in India:
- Social Factors:
- Special children, with physical or mental disabilities, are more vulnerable.
- Girls from Socio-economically marginalized communities are forced into the commercial sex rackets through Devadasi system.
- No facilities are there for counselling as well as provision of proper medical care for the victims.
- There has also been no awareness programmes on HIV/STD prevention in areas which practice devadasi system.
- Issues with Legal Framework
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012, and Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act of 2015 does not recognize this practice as a form of sexual exploitation of children.
- Proposed Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018, also do not recognise these dedicated girls as victims of trafficking for sexual purposes.
- Children are also not explicitly recognised as children in need of care and protection under JJ Act.
- No framework for rehabilitation and state’s failure to enhance the livelihood of weaker section of society are also responsible.
- Low reporting of cases has been one of the reason behind its prevalence in Karnataka (only four cases filed between 2011 and 2017).
Recommendation towards curbing the social evil of devadasi system.
- Since members of these community belongs to low caste, Government should come up with alternative income generation programmes which the devadasis can take up and support themselves.
- Frequent anti-dedication campaigns and rallies should be arranged in the area where the practice is popular.
- Legal action within the purview of the Karnataka Devadasi (Prohibition of Dedication) Act, 1982 and Suppression of Immoral Traffic on Women Act, 1935 should be strictly enforced.
- It is necessary that rehabilitation and correctional centers be located in rural areas where the practice is prevalent with a high rate.
- There is a long felt need to conduct a systematic survey covering the whole state of Karnataka to ascertain the exact population of devadasis in Karnataka
