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The way of protesting cannot be better and the occasion cannot be more befitting. While the rest of the country was busy celebrating the nation's Independence Day on August 15, a handful of elderly women walked semi-nude from the heart of the city of dreams of Mumbai to highlight the pathetic plight of lakhs of widows and devdasis in Maharashtra.
The semi-nude rally by the devdasis started from the famous Victoria Terminus to Mantralaya to highlight government inaction on the welfare of widows and devdasis in the state. The protesting women are destitute widows and part of the Maharashtra Niradhar Va Devdasi Mahila Sanghatana.
The devdasi practice in the country has a history of several centuries. They are women who are married off to temple deities in their teens. For a living, they are supposed to go door-to-door for food and money. They enjoyed high status during the days of the great Hindu kingdoms of yore, but today, many are believed to be into prostitution. The practice was outlawed in 1988, but continues in certain parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
Even though the central government had announced an economic rehabilitation package for devdasis, it is hardly sufficient to lead a life. Thought the Maharashtra Niradhar Va Devdasi Mahila Sanghatana has been pressing for a monthly remuneration of Rs 2,000 for every devdasi under the women and child welfare programme, they are now getting a paltry sum of Rs 500 per month which, the regret, is not enough to run a household.
The Sanghatana has also been demanding yellow ration cards, meant for people below the poverty line, for devdasis and widows, and reservation in schools and colleges for their children. They want the government to waive off the requirement for an income certificate for these women.
Now after the wait of more than a decade for some financial assistance, the widows are now more aggressive. 'We will go completely nude, if our concerns are not addressed', they resolve.
The devdasis have made their intentions clear. Now it is the government to take note to avoid such embarrassing situation on the city roads.
