DEVADASI SYSTEM IN INDIA

The Devadasi is a Sanskrit term which means servant of Deva (GOD) or Devi (GODESS). This is a kind of religious practice of dedicating young girls to temples as an offering to appease the gods. This practice persists mainly in south India.

Different names for devadasi system:

*States in which it is prevailing 

  1. odisha-Bhitara Gauni
  2. Joginis in Medak and Warangal
  3. Mathamma or Matangi in Nellore, Ongole, Prakasam 
  4. BaIavi in Kurnool, Anantapur and Chittoor
  5. Shiva Parvati, and Paravathulu in Karimnagar, 
  6. Thayaramma in Vizianagaram
  7. Ambabai in Rangareddy 
  8. Devadasi in coastal districts.

Origin of the Devadasi System:

  • The Devadasi system in India began during the sixth century when young girls got married to a God. After this marriage ceremony, the temple caretakers and priests perform all the ceremonies, such as music and dance, in the diety’s honor.
  • Initially, the girls forced into the Devadasi tradition learned and practiced various art forms like Odissi, Bharatanatyam, or other traditional dance styles, apart from engaging in marriage rituals and taking care of the temple.
  • Earlier, the Devadasis in India enjoyed a royal, divine status, as music and dance were a part of adoration in temples and were considered auspicious for every occasion.
  • However, after the advent of the Britishers and Mughals, numerous temples got demolished. It deteriorated and exploited the status of these women in society.
  • Apart from this, the kids born from Devadasi women were forced to learn music and dance and remain dedicated to the temples.

Reason for devadasi

  1. Superstitious beliefs,
  2. community pressure,
  3. disability,
  4. tradition,
  5. and continuation of traditions among others are some of the reasons behind the continued practice.
  6. Special children, with physical or mental disabilities, are more vulnerable to be dedicated as devadasis.

Why devadasi system is still prevailing

  1. Society’s acceptance: Devadasi dedication and the resulting sexual abuse of these girl children are accepted and celebrated by society. Those willing to report also fear the backlash of the society and community and refrain from reporting.
  2. Ineffective awareness programmes: Awareness generation about the provisions of the legislation, in communities where the prevalence of dedication is high, is absent. Even those awareness programmes conducted fail to bring any behavioral change within the community.
  3. Lack of Police Action: The police are failing to take Suo Motu action in cases of dedication and are not registering cases coming to them due to pressure from the community.
  4. Non-cooperative victims: Unwillingness of the victims to report against their parents or relatives becomes a big challenge. Even if the case is registered, there is a high probability of the victim turning hostile.
  5. Inadequate preventive measures: The functionaries and the law enforcement agencies are not taking any measures to prevent dedication from taking place and focus only on schemes to be given to the older Devadasis.
  6. Lack of coordination: There is a lack of coordination between the various departments, agencies, and functionaries which is leading to ineffective efforts to stop the practice of Devadasi dedication.
  7. Poor implementation of legislation: There are several provisions under different laws (POCSO, ITPA, JJ Act, IPC) that would be relevant in the case of the dedication of a girl. However, there is a lack of application of all these legislations.

Consequences of Devadasi system

  1. Health Risks: The devadasis who are forced into prostitution become vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS.
  2. Caste based discrimination will be deep rooted.
  3. Complete violation of Human Rights and Women Rights
  4. Women gets sexually exploited by upper caste people. 

Steps taken by the Central Government and State Government:

  • In 2015, the Central Govt issued an advisory to all State Governments to strictly implement the law prohibiting Devadasi System and conduct identification surveys to rescue Devadasis.
  • However, the advisory merely lists counselling, Medical treatment, “guidance, support and motivation to lead a dignified life” as rehabilitation for Devadasis who are landless, illiterate and marginalized.
  • Laws passed by various State Governments:
  1. Bombay Devadasi Protection Act, 1934
  2. Madras Devadasi (Prevention of Dedication) Act of 1947
  3. Karnataka Devadasi (Prohibition of Dedication) Act, 1982
  4. Andhra Pradesh Devadasi (Prohibition of Dedication) Act, 1988
  5. Maharashtra Devadasi (Abolition of Dedication) Act, 2006
  6. Juvenile Justice Act 2015 (JJ Act)
  7. To stop abandoning young girls in name of a tradition for sexual exploitation and prostitution, Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956 (ITPA Act) and Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection, and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018.
  8. Karnataka Devadasi Prevention Act 1982, Indian Penal Code 1860, Juvenile Justice Act 2015, Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection, and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018 must be adequately amended to address the issue of Devadasis
  9. The practice of Devadasi system in any form is in total contravention of the provisions of Section 370 and 370A as amended through Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 as well as Section 372 of Indian Penal Code. It is also against Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
  10. The Madras Devadasis (Prevention of Dedication) Act (also called the Tamil Nadu Devadasis (Prevention of Dedication) Act or the Madras Devadasi Act) is a law that was enacted on 9 October 1947 just after India became independent from British rule.[1] The law was passed in the Madras Presidency and gave devadasis the legal right to marry and made it illegal to dedicate girls to Hindu temples.

Way Forward:

  1. State and Union governments need to take strict actions on this regard.
  2. NGO’s role in spreading awareness through street plays and other remunerative methods is most significant, and community participation is required to abolish such kind of practices.
  3. The affected girls needs rehabilitation and proper alternative livelihood opportunities.

Conclusion:

South India continues to practice the Sixth Century tradition known as the Devadasi System. It is required to take the strict and necessary actions especially by central and State Governments in order to completely abolish this tradition age old social evil DEVADASI system.

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