New Delhi: Prohibiting male tailors from taking measurements of women, to barring men from training women during gym or yoga classes, a couple of women’s safety measures that are part of a nine-pointer proposal by the Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission have sparked a controversy.
Opposition parties have slammed the statutory body for having an “orthodox mindset”, adding that the proposal will affect tailors and gym business owners.
The proposal, a copy of which ThePrint has seen, also recommends female security guards for school buses and ensuring women’s clothing stores employ female staff members for customer assistance, among other measures.
It mandates that a female assistant take measurements of women in tailors’ shops, and female dance teachers in academies where women enrol.
The proposal also states that coaching centres and gyms must have CCTV cameras.
Functionaries in the commission told ThePrint that the suggestions were made during a 28 October meeting of the women’s body.
The commission will subsequently request the state government to make laws in this regard.
Charu Chaudhary, vice-chairperson of the commission, told ThePrint that these guidelines are “much needed” because they have received complaints from women about gym trainers and male tailors in several districts.
“It is not just molestation; sometimes, we receive complaints about ‘bad touch’ by gym instructors, dance teachers and tailors. So, we decided to propose some guidelines that must be changed into laws in the state,” she said, adding that in salons, only female barbers must attend to women customers.
Asked if these guidelines would hamper businesses of tailors and gym owners, Chaudhary said, “We are not causing any loss. A male tailor can run his shop but must keep a female assistant to take measurements of women. One must look at the positive side: many females will get jobs now if the guidelines are followed.”
Babita Chauhan, chief of the commission, told reporters in Lucknow Friday that gyms catering to female clients must employ women trainers. “Police verification of all gym trainers is mandatory. If a woman wishes to train with a male trainer, she must provide written consent.”
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What Opposition says
Speaking to ThePrint, Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson Pooja Shukla questioned the idea behind these guidelines. “By making such guidelines, can anyone change the mindset also? So why is the UP women commission proposing such guidelines? If the UP government applies these, it will show their ‘orthodox mindset’. Where is equality?”
Congress spokesperson Dolly Sharma expressed doubt about whether these guidelines are practically applicable.
“It may result in a loss to someone’s business. If the UP government is serious about women’s safety, it must first stop its leaders from speaking against women. We have seen the cases of Kuldeep Sengar and Chinmayanand. All were associated with BJP,” Sharma told ThePrint.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
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