Latest news with #KarnatakaStateHumanRightsCommission
Time of India
04-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Concerns raised regarding age limit set by govt for Devadasi survey
Mangaluru: Poornima Ravi, director of the 78-minute documentary titled 'God's Wives Men's Slaves', on the plight of Devadasis in Karnataka, released about two years ago, has raised concerns regarding the age limit set by the govt for the proposed survey. Poornima, a guest faculty and working on the PhD thesis, 'Representations of the Devadasi Tradition in Select Indian English Narratives' under the guidance of Dr Nayana Kashyap from the department of English, FMKMCC, Madikeri stated that as per the budget speech for 2024-25, administrative approval was granted to conduct a re-survey to collect accurate data on the social and economic conditions of former Devadasi women and to facilitate their rehabilitation. Additionally, in accordance with the directive issued by the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission on June 23, this survey is scheduled to be completed by the end of Oct. The surveys conducted in 1982, 1993-94, and 2007-08 remained incomplete primarily due to the imposition of an age limit. "This resulted in younger Devadasis being excluded from the survey, leading to their continued struggles and hardships," she said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Beautiful Female Athletes in the World Click Here Undo Now, the state govt is repeating the same mistake. This time, too, it has been decided to limit the survey to Devadasis above the age of 41. "In reality, many girls who were dedicated as Devadasis at a very young age are still below 40 years old. This came to our attention during the production of our documentary," Poornima said. Furthermore, there are complaints that, even today, young girls are secretly being dedicated to this practice. Against this backdrop, imposing an age limit on the current survey will once again result in injustice to the victims of the Devadasi system. The tearful saga of the victims of the Devadasi system knows no end. Even today, they lead lives of extreme deprivation in society. The curse of their existence also affects their children and grandchildren, who continue to suffer. In this context, the state govt must immediately conduct the Devadasi survey without imposing an age limit and ensure justice for all victims, she urged.
The Hindu
28-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Activists demand Devadasi survey without condition of age limit
As preparations are under way for the third survey of Devadasis in Karnataka, the community members have urged the State government to conduct the door-to door survey without fixing any age limit to identify the Devadasis — now concentrated mostly in 15 northern districts. The Bengaluru-based National Law School of India University (NLSIU), which is spearheading efforts to bring a new legislation for Devadasis, has also petitioned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah against any age limit. While the fresh survey — a long-pending demand of the community — had been announced in the 2024-2025 Budget, the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) recently directed the government to complete the survey and come out with recommendations before this October. It is learnt that the survey is being planned to be conducted through the offices of taluk-level child development officers, where Devadasis are expected to go and provide their details. While circulars so far have been silent on the age, community members have been pointing to past surveys which were conducted similarly from offices and had kept out women below 45 years. Banned in 1982 The centuries-old practice of dedication of women to temples as Devadasis has been banned in the State since 1982 when the Karnataka Devadasis (Prohibition of Dedication) Act was enacted. Subsequently, the government conducted surveys in 1993-1994 and 2007-2008, when 22,873 and 46,660 Devadasis, respectively, were identified. However, Yamunurappa, coordinator of Vimuktha Devadasi Mahila Mathu Makkala Vedike, claimed that a similar number of Devadasis have remained outside the list owing to several issues. 'I did not even know of a survey being conducted. I have a Devadasi certificate, but I am not on the list. I do not get any pension,' 74-year-old Honnamma from Harikere in Harappanahalli of Vijayanagara district said, pointing to a lack of awareness. Being on the list becomes important for receiving rehabilitation benefits including ₹2,000 monthly pension. The demand for house-to-house survey by the team, which should include former Devadasis, has come in the light of allegations that many non-Devadasis were getting included in the current list and receiving benefits. Stigma, lack of awareness 'Earlier, stigma prevented many from coming out in the open and many were threatened by officials of possible legal trouble if they declared themselves to be Devadasis because it had been banned in 1982. Despite the ban, the tradition continued across many big temples during annual fairs in North Karnataka,' said Manjula Malige, daughter of a Devadasi and now associated with Hosapete-based Sakhi Trust. 'The biggest hindrance in the previous two surveys has been the age limit of 45 and above to qualify to register. Women in North Karnataka also migrate for livelihood. There was a lack of awareness about the survey.' According to R.V. Chandrashekar, researcher in NLSIU, the government orders in the previous surveys remained silent on the age limit, but they crept in during subsequent circulars. 'We want the survey to be comprehensive following which a one-time rehabilitation is possible.'
New Indian Express
25-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Devadasis in Karnataka seek inclusive re-survey
BENGALURU: Devadasi women and children from 15 Karnataka districts have come together to form a forum and have demanded the immediate implementation of the Karnataka Devadasi (Prevention, Prohibition, Relief and Rehabilitation) 2018 Bill and called for a re-survey of all Devadasi women without an age limit. The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission, in a directive dated June 23, instructed the Chief Secretary to complete a statewide survey of all Devadasi women and submit a report by October 24. In response, the Department of Women and Child Development is preparing for a survey. However, the department's proposal to include only women aged 45 and above has drawn strong criticism. Former minister H Anjaneya, highlighting the problems in the past surveys in 1982 and 1993-94, said, 'The surveys did not capture the full scale of Devadasi women and their children, as many Devadasi women fear coming forward due to the fear of punishments, leading to their exclusion from support schemes.' In light of past surveys that failed to capture all Devadasi women due to age-based limitations and other factors, the community has demanded that the upcoming re-survey be more comprehensive. Yamanurappa, a member of the forum, said, 'We want the government to drop the proposed age limit of 45 for its upcoming re-survey.' He further stated that the government should conduct door-to-door surveys instead of relying on in-office enumeration.
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Indian Express
‘Grave, ongoing violation of human rights and abuse of power': Migrants allege police extortion in Bengaluru's IT corridor
A worker from West Bengal last week filed a complaint with the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) alleging that the Bengaluru police have been targeting migrant workers and small shopkeepers to extort money and threatening to book them under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). The Bengaluru police have categorically denied the allegation, saying they were conducting special drives against public smoking, and the sale of loose cigarettes. In his complaint filed on July 3, Lalchand Sheikh, who lives in Varthur, alleged that the local police were collecting bribes from more than 100 shops. Sheikh, a shopkeeper representing the affected migrant community, said the police harassment has intensified following the crackdown on loose cigarette and tobacco sales. According to the complaint, officers have been collecting weekly and monthly bribes ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 3,000 per shop, openly threatening arrest or harassment for non-compliance. The victims are primarily migrant workers from West Bengal and their families living in informal settlements across Varthur. Sheikh has included audio and video recordings in his complaint, allegedly showing policemen collecting bribes, providing evidence of what he describes as a 'grave and ongoing violation of human rights, police misconduct, and abuse of power.' The complainant stated that the police forcibly seized his fingerprint machine, essential for identification and documentation work for labourers. He said the police officers are now demanding Rs 23,000 for its return, and repeatedly summoning him to the police station. 'This is blatant theft and extortion,' the complainant alleged, highlighting how the harassment affects not just commerce but essential services for the migrant community. Shivakumar Gunare, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Whitefield, told The Indian Express he was aware of the complaint. 'We have been conducting drives against public smoking, and the sale of loose cigarettes. More than 200 cases have been filed, and fines have been collected. Following the drives, some are trying to plant such allegations. If there is any particular incident, they can report it to me or other police officers, and action will be initiated,' he said.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- The Hindu
Following SHRC raid, police register FIRs against rehab centres in Bengaluru for illegal detention, physical abuse, and harassment
Following a series of raids carried out by the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on five rehab centres allegedly involved in serious violations, as many as three FIRS have been filed against the accused charging them under wrongful confinement and harassment to the inmates under the garb of treatment. One of the victims who was rescued, identified as Krishne Gowda, 50, alleged that his wife Asha, her father Anand, and a relative Kiran forcibly admitted him to the centre on false grounds to stop him from attending court hearings related to a long-standing property dispute. He alleged that he has been confined at the centre since December 2023 despite being mentally fit and never addicted to substances. In another statement recorded on Thursday evening, a youth told police that he was sent to the same rehab centre by his mother in the first week of June due to addiction of mobile games and behavioural issues. Based on the complaint, the police have registered a case of illegal confinement under the Juvenile Justice Act for further investigation. .Officials said many of the detainees were non-addicted individuals, held without proper medical oversight or legal process.
