Bengaluru, March 4 (NationPress) The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) from Karnataka has appealed to the Congress-led administration in the state to persist with the re-survey of former Devadasis in a manner that is thorough, fair, and just.

The Devadasi tradition is an ancient system deeply embedded in certain regions of India. It is widely acknowledged that this exploitative practice has been a socio-economic burden, especially for Dalit women, subjecting them and their daughters to generations of abuse.

Under this system, young females were often dedicated or symbolically “married” to a temple deity, devoting their lives to temple service. Unfortunately, this practice was frequently manipulated by affluent and influential members of society, resulting in the sexual exploitation and forced prostitution of women from underprivileged backgrounds.

Despite legal abolition, remnants of the Devadasi system and its associated abuses persist in various areas of the country.

NFIW State President Jyothi A. remarked in Bengaluru that it has come to light that Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar presented a report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in mid-February, indicating that 23,395 women were identified in the re-survey, in contrast to the 46,660 former Devadasis recorded in the 2007-2008 survey.

“The Minister has asserted that this re-survey was conducted under her oversight without convening a single meeting of the State-level Monitoring and Re-evaluation Committee to address the concerns raised during the re-evaluation. It is perplexing how we are to accept this process. A survey that is so unjust to the most marginalized women cannot be tolerated,” Jyothi expressed.

“Moreover, those of us who are closely engaged with this community recognize that the re-survey is not yet complete due to various challenges. Numerous names excluded from the previous survey and new additions are yet to be validated. Such legitimate cases are numerous across several districts,” she emphasized.

She also highlighted that meetings for supervision and re-evaluation at the taluk and district levels are not consistently held in many regions.

“The absence of effective awareness initiatives regarding the re-survey has left many former Devadasi women unaware of the process,” Jyothi noted.

Even among those informed about the re-survey, many struggle to produce the necessary documents requested by department officials. Despite raising this concern with the Karnataka Women Development Corporation multiple times, Secretary K. Renuka claimed that no decisive action has been taken.

Renuka added that while the incidence of girls victimized by the Devadasi system in the state has decreased compared to prior decades, it remains uncertain whether the practice has completely ceased.

“Thus, it is prudent not to enforce an age limit during the re-survey. We have consistently communicated this to officials of the Karnataka Women Development Corporation during our meetings,” she continued.

During the re-evaluation, locals have noted that some individuals who are not Devadasis have been incorrectly included in the list, whereas genuine beneficiaries have been excluded for various reasons, as alleged by State Committee Member Shekamma.

A thorough investigation is imperative to ensure justice for the victims, Jyothi demanded.

“We insist that beneficiaries of various rehabilitation initiatives for former Devadasis should not be determined based on the incomplete report submitted to the government by the Minister for Women and Child Development.

“The re-survey of Devadasis should continue and be executed in a comprehensive, equitable, and transparent manner, ensuring that all deserving victims and their families are included,” State Committee Member Durga insisted.