Rajasthan caste panchayat bars women from using smartphones, triggers protests

A caste panchayat of 15 villages in Rajasthan’s Jalore district has issued an order barring women from using smartphones from next month, triggering protests.

In its recent ruling, the panchayat ordered that no women or girls from these villages will use camera phones with internet access from January 26, meaning that women are only allowed to use basic keypad phones.

According to local sources, the meeting where the decision was taken was held on Sunday in Ghazipur village in Jalore district.

The panchayat also stated that if girls require mobile phones for education, they will be allowed to use them only at home and not carry them to weddings, social events or neighbours’ houses.

The decision has sparked outrage, prompting some panchayat members to later justify the move by telling local media that it was “to prevent children from using their mothers’ mobile phones and damaging their eyesight”.

However, according to local sources, the decision followed instances of “women running away from their homes and creating difficulties for family members in society”.

“To control such incidents, the panchayat decided to issue these orders,” one source said.

Jalore Collector Pradeep Gawande told that the district administration has been alerted to the row and is looking into the matter.

Meanwhile, the ruling has caused a furore, with critics calling it “an arbitrary ruling aimed at taking away women’s autonomy and freedom in the digital world”.

“This is unacceptable that in the 21st century, these khap panchayats have so much power. Why are they so afraid of women’s freedom? Superintendent of police in Jalore should take Suo moto cognizance of this matter and get it scrapped,” Suman Devathiya, managing trustee of the non-profit Agaaz Foundation, said.