Ishapur Kheri, a village in Sonepat district of Haryana with a population of 5000, has barred girls from using mobile phones and wearing jeans, as the villagers fear that it “makes them elope with boys”.
Prem Singh, the sarpanch of the village, had issued this diktat a couple of months ago during a panchayat but he as well as other village heads have got active now to ensure that the ban is implemented.
The sarpanch said three college-going girls from the village had eloped with boys two years ago against their family’s wishes, bringing shame to the entire village. It was found that those three girls used to keep mobile phones and wear modern clothes, he said.
“When they (girls) use mobile phones, they get in touch with boys and make plans to run away with them. By wearing modern clothes like jeans, they attract unnecessary attention,” Singh said, while talking to HT.
The sarpanch said he has two daughters, both of whom are married. He also has a granddaughter in Class 9, who is only allowed to use a simple phone for calling facility under her parents’ guidance.
The decision of the sarpanch has been appreciated by many villagers.
“After what happened in the village, it is a good step. We have a daughter in Class 10, but we have not given her mobile phone,” said Surender Singh, a panch in the village who works in government service.
Ishapur Kheri village has a population of over 5,000.
As the diktat is closely monitored, girls are scared of wearing jeans or keeping mobile phones with them. Though, they do not agree with the order.
"No man has the right to dictate what we should wear or not. Panchayat needs to change its archaic and medieval mindset. Mobile phones are a necessity in today’s world and we should not be stopped from using them," say students of Gohana College on conditions of anonymity.
In parts of India, Khaps are a menace and has been scolded by courts multiple times in the past. In March, the Supreme Court had said interference by illegal assemblies, like 'khap' panchayats, in marriages of two consenting adults was "absolutely illegal".
The apex court's ruling came on a plea by NGO Shakti Vahini, which had moved the apex court in 2010 seeking protection of couples from honour killings.
