In a stark critique of government efforts, the Karnataka unit of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) has urged the Congress-led administration to resume and perfect the resurvey of former Devadasis. This ancient exploitative tradition continues to haunt Dalit communities despite legal abolition.
Devadasis were girls ‘dedicated’ to temples, a guise for lifelong servitude and sexual exploitation by elites. NFIW leaders decry the latest survey’s inadequacies. Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar’s report to CM Siddaramaiah slashed the count to 23,395 from over 46,000 in 2008, raising red flags.
‘How can we trust a process without monitoring meetings?’ asked president Jyoti A. Activists on the ground reveal stalled approvals, lax local oversight, and poor outreach leaving many unaware. Demanding documents proves a barrier, with officials unresponsive to complaints.
Secretary K. Renuka emphasized that while fewer girls fall victim today, vigilance demands boundless age criteria. Shekamma exposed manipulations: fake inclusions and rightful exclusions. NFIW insists on comprehensive investigations before basing welfare on this dubious data.
This controversy spotlights systemic failures in protecting vulnerable women. Proper resurveying is crucial for tailored rehabilitation programs, ensuring aid reaches true survivors. The federation’s appeal pressures authorities to act decisively, honoring commitments to social justice in Karnataka.