NHRC Notifies the Federal and State Governments about the Devadasi System

By: WE Staff | Saturday, 15 October 2022

In response to the threat posed by the Devadasi system, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent notices to the Union Ministries of Women & Child Development, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, and the governments of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. The notices request a thorough report on the issue.

The report must include supporting information outlining the actions done or planned by the government to stop the Devadasi system as well as to give the Devadasis with social security and rehabilitative services so they can live honourably. The NHRC said in a statement that it should also clarify whether any local legislation have been passed in the States to stop such social evils, and if not, what steps have been suggested to be done to do so.

A media report on the ongoing threat posed by the Devadasi system, particularly in the southern region of India, was taken under its own steam by the Commission. According to reports, the governments of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh proclaimed this Devadasi custom to be unconstitutional in the years 1982 and 1988, respectively. However, it claimed that more than 70,000 women in Karnataka alone were living as Devadasis.

According to reports, a Commission established under the direction of Justice Raghunath Rao determined that there are 80,000 Devadasis living in the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

When the notices were issued, the Commission noted that it had previously received a complaint about Devadasi's misconduct in the States of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The state officials had refuted the accusations in response to their notices. As the news article explains, numerous laws have also been passed in the past to halt the Devadasi system's malpractice, yet it is still in use today. The Apex Court has also expressed its strong disapproval of the practise of committing young females to serve as Devadasis. It has been stated that the practise degrades women by forcing them into prostitution and sexual exploitation. The violation of these victim women's rights to life, dignity, and equality is a major problem, it was added.