New Delhi, Oct 14 (Agency) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday issued notices to Union Ministries of Women & Child Development, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, the governments of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra over menace of Devadasi system, calling for a detailed report in the matter. The report must contain the supporting data mentioning the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the authorities to prevent the Devadasi system and to provide the Devadasis rehabilitation and social security so that they could lead their lives with dignity.
It should also mention whether any local laws have been enacted in the States to prevent such social evil, and if not what steps have been proposed to be taken to eradicate it, NHRC in a statement stated. The Commission took suo motu cognizance of a media report on the continued menace of Devadasi system, especially in southern part of India. Reportedly, the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments had declared this tradition of Devadasi as illegal in the year 1982 and 1988, respectively. However, reportedly, over 70,000 women have been leading their lives as Devadasi in Karnataka alone, it stated. A Commission constituted under the chairmanship of Justice Raghunath Rao had reportedly held that there are 80,000 Devadasis in the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, it added. Issuing the notices, the Commission observed that a few years back, it had received a complaint regarding the malpractice of Devadasi in the States of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
In response to its notices, the state authorities had denied the allegations. Various laws have also been enacted in the past to stop the malpractice of the Devadasi system but it is still prevailing, as the news report indicates. The Apex Court has also taken a stern stance in condemning the malpractice of dedicating young girls as Devadasis. It has described the practice as an evil done to women by subjecting them to sexual exploitation and prostitution. This is a serious issue of violation of Right to Life, Dignity and Equality of these victim women, it added.