The Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission recently proposed measures to protect women and address instances of harassment in public and professional spaces. Among these recommendations is a guideline that men should not take women’s measurements in tailor shops, cut women’s hair, or train women in gyms. The proposal, following a commission meeting on October 28, also includes mandates for CCTV installations in gyms, boutiques, and coaching centers, as well as female security personnel on school buses.
Chairperson Babita Chauhan emphasised that these measures aim to curb unwanted contact and ensure safer environments for women. “What we are saying is that it isn’t a problem if the tailor is male, but only women should take measurements,” she explained. The commission clarified that while not all men have bad intentions, the precautions are intended to reduce the risk of harassment.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions, with Samajwadi Party MLA Ragini Sonkar saying it should be left to individuals to decide which store or gym they want to go to. “I don’t think this is a justified decision as it should be an individual choice on whether one prefers a male or a female to attend to them. It is a matter of choice,” said the MLA from Machhlishahr in Jaunpur district. “We are okay with the proposal about women’s presence being mandatory at shops selling women’s garments and at tailoring shops. But then, ultimately, it boils down to individual choice and this can’t be limited to a particular sex,” Sonkar said.
The commission has sent letters to district magistrates across Uttar Pradesh to encourage the adoption of these guidelines, though the proposals are not yet law. In addition to preventing harassment, the commission sees the initiative as an opportunity to increase employment for women in roles that could support these measures.
Responses to the proposal have been varied. While social workers and supporters, like Veena Sharma of Mission Shakti, welcomed the proposal, others view it as an infringement on individual choice. Samajwadi Party MLA Ragini Sonkar argued that personal preference should dictate whether women seek male or female service providers, seeing it as a matter of autonomy rather than restriction.
The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) also criticised the commission’s approach. AIDWA national joint secretary Madhu Garg expressed concern that these measures could lead to job losses for men in these industries and questioned the commission’s prioritisation of such issues, suggesting a focus on preventing severe crimes like rape and murder.
Supriya Kohli, who runs a boutique at Lucknow’s Prag Narain Road, said, “Usually there aren’t any objections on the issue of who is taking measurements but we do have women to take measurements if the client demands it. There is nothing wrong with the move per se.”
The proposal thus highlights a complex balancing act between safety measures for women and individual freedoms, with further discussions expected as it moves through legislative review.
(With PTI inputs)