Punjab village out of purdah, slowly but surely

Raj Sadosh
Tribune News Service
Abohar, March 7 

International Women’s Day may be celebrated on March 8 each year, but for Panjkosi village on the Punjab-Rajasthan border here, it fell on May 15 last year.  

That was the first time that the women residents came out of the purdah on the insistence of Sub-Divisional Magistrate Poonam Singh, who was there to create awareness against drug abuse. The second time they had lifted veils in public was on December 30 last year, while voting in panchayat polls.   

Just as development has eluded these 20-odd villages, so has uplift of women. Though almost 10 villages have women sarpanches, they hold the posts only in name. Power rests with men. 

These villages are inhabited by Bagris, Jats and Bishnois. Even Dalit families follow the same social norms. Such deep-rooted is the system that women have to keep the veil even in their homes.  At social functions, including marriages, they sit separately. 

Even in a prominent political family from here, women members do not come out for campaigning or meetings.  

Winds of change, though, seem to be blowing. Thanks to a targeted approach, girls are being sent to schools and even colleges. A miniscule number has even got teaching jobs.