Latest news with #Devadasis
The Hindu
3 days ago
- 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.'
The Hindu
23-07-2025
- The Hindu
Karnataka proposes a new Devadasi legislation with clauses on paternity test, right to property
In a bid to strengthen the legislation against the centuries-old Devadasi system, the Karnataka government is working on introducing a new law. It intends to do away with the need for the father's name in application forms and government identity cards, besides recognising the right of the child of Devadasi to identify the father by provisioning DNA test to prove paternity. The new legislation, Karnataka Devadasi (Prevention, Prohibition, Relief and Rehabilitation) Bill, is currently being discussed to replace the more than four-decade-old Karnataka Devadasi (Prohibition and Dedication) Act, 1982. Devadasis and their children have been for long seeking a comprehensive legislation that could end the evil system and provide for proper relief and rehabilitation. 'Legitimate child' Among other proposed provisions in the legislation, being drafted with the assistance of the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion, National Law School of India University (NLSIU), are that any child of a Devadasi will be deemed as a 'legitimate child' and will have the right to property with inheritance and succession following the Hindu Personal Law. The proposed legislation also provides the option for unwilling children of a Devadasi not to be compelled to declare the name of their father while applying for government identity cards such as such as passport, PAN, Aadhaar, and driving licence. Since the Karnataka Devadasi (Prohibition of Dedication) Act, 1982 33 cases reported FIR lodged in 22 cases Conviction in four cases Seven cases in trial stage Acquittal in 11 cases Providing the right to maintenance to the child, the proposed law puts the burden of disproving paternity on the person named as the father of the child. The provision provides the right to be availed of by a male child until he is a minor and a girl child until marriage. It suggests DNA test to establish paternity upon refusal after the child approaches the taluk committee seeking recognition of paternal bond. However, provision is also made to the person indicated as father to retain the right to disprove claim of paternity through appropriate biochemical evidence. Penal clause While the existing law has set punishment to be a maximum of three years for those performing, permitting, taking part or abetting the performance of any ceremony or act for dedicating women as a Devdasi, the proposed law increases the imprisonment term to a maximum of five years with minimum imprisonment to be two years and a fine of ₹1 lakh. Survey of Devadasis 1993 – 22,873 2007 - 46,660 2025 - Fresh survey ordered by the SHRC to be conducted before October Ballari and Vijayanagara districts estimated to have around 9,000 Devadasis 'The new Bill was first proposed in 2018 after experts deliberated on the lacunae in the existing legislation. There is a need to overhaul the legislation to protect the interests of Devadasis. Consultations were held with Devadasis and their children before the proposed Bill was drafted,' said R.V. Chandrashekar, a researcher at the Bengaluru-based NLSIU. Consultation process Sources said that the inter-departmental consultation is almost complete, and the proposed Bill could soon be brought before the Cabinet ahead of it being piloted in the legislature. Among the many other perceived benefits of the Bill is comprehensive rehabilitation for Devadasis, many of whom do not have land or house of their own, and are struggling with both social and acute economic backwardness, besides battling health issues. Activists say that while only 46,660 Devadasis have been identified, a large number remain outside the list based on which benefits, including pension, are being provided by the government.
The Hindu
23-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Multiple stories of humiliation of Devadasi children
Thirty-two-year-old S. Radha has been running from pillar to post to get her daughter admitted to a government-run residential school for a year now. The child whose documents do not provide the father's name, but has 'XYZ' marked in the column to name the father, has been denied admission. 'I have been humiliated by officials. Having to fill the father's name mandatorily has to be removed to make our lives easy,' said Ms. Radha, a Davadasi and a resident of Nagenahalli, near Hosapete in Vijayanagara district. The woman, who dropped out of PUC more than a decade ago, is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts. Similarly, 22-year-old Ravi Kombenavar, a civil engineering diploma holder from Nidugundi in Vijayapura district, has 'XXX' written in place of his father's name. The need for naming the father has become a problem, especially after the application process has been moved online and without filling the name, the application remains incomplete. 'Though officials frustrate us by asking us to put some random name whenever there is a problem, I do not do it. How can I create documents for some imaginary name?' asked Manjula Malige, daughter of a Devadasi and an MSW graduate working at Hosapete-based NGO Sakhi Trust. 'We want the government to allow us to name our mother in the father's column or just write Devadasi.' Ms. Malige faced a problem when she applied for a certificate to get benefits under Article 371 J. The Devadasi children have been facing the problem for a long time, and recently, the daughter of a Devadasi fought successfully for months to get her passport done without naming the father. 'Many others have had a problem of the grandfather's name or a maternal uncle's name filled in the father's name column. When the women migrated looking for livelihood, they would leave their young child in their maternal homes. During admissions, either the grandfather or uncle would have provided names,' said Renukamma from Kudligi. According to Koppal resident Yamanurappa Hucchaiaya Swamy, son of a Devadasi and coordinator of the Vimuktha Devadasi Mahila Mathu Makkala Vedike spread across 14 districts, most Devadasis come from Dalit and backward communities. He said more than 90% of the Devadasis come from the most backward Madiga community. Women from Holeya, Valmiki, and Talwar communities, among others, have also been initiated. 'In many cases, though the father is moving in front of his children, they cannot identify him as the father. The Bill has become necessary because there is no reservation or any other comprehensive benefits for Devadasi children. In most cases, Devadasis are abandoned by men, do not provide their name to the child, and there is no value for relationship,' he said.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Veteran journalist Channaiah Itnalmath dead
Channaiah A. Itnalmath, veteran journalist, activist, and pro-Kannada campaigner, died in Athani in Belagavi district on Monday. The 62-year-old writer was undergoing treatment for rectal cancer, family sources said. He is survived by his mother, wife and son Abhinav Itnalmath, a student of medicine. A bilingual journalist, Mr. Itnalmath had worked for decades in Kannada and English newspapers. Before joining the newsroom, he had worked for Vimochana Sansthe, founded by B.L. Patil, for the rehabilitation of Devadasis and the education of their children. He was involved in running a school for the children of Devadasis in Athani and a clinic in Saundatti. Mr. Itnalmath was respected for his in-depth understanding of various social and political issues. He led several campaigns through his reports. They included comprehensive irrigation of the drier regions of Belagavi district like Athani, Nippani and Ramdurg, and creation of a new Athani district. His stories also gave voice to the woes of Kannada speaking communities in neighbouring Jath in Maharashtra. KLE society chairman Prabhakar Kore offered his condolences. Mr. Itnalmath was known for his dedication to truth and impactful reporting over a career. His analytical stories and sharp political commentary left a lasting impression on the readers. His journalistic contributions played a significant role in highlighting local issues and influencing public discourse in the region, Mr. Kore said. Mahantesh Kavatagimath, former MLC and KLE society director, said that Mr. Itnalmath had been a relentless campaigner for the cause of northern Karnataka. 'He would follow up on development issues long after others had forgotten them. His articles provided content for legislators who spoke in the winter session of the legislature,' he said.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
SHRC directs Karnataka govt. to hold a comprehensive survey of Devadasis in State
In a significant move, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed the Karnataka government to hold a comprehensive survey of Devadasis in Karnataka to ascertain their exact number in the State, within the next four months. Earlier surveys While earlier surveys in 1993-1994 and 2007-2008 had put the number of Devadasis in Karnataka at 22,873 and 46,660 respectively, the commission has noted that there is a need to ascertain exact number of Devadasis in the State for issuing necessary recommendations, and take steps to eradicate the system completely. In its order dated June 23, the commission has said that the survey has to be conducted by the Women and Child Development Department to identify the number of Devadasis, and to submit district-wise report before October 24, 2025. 'The survey should also count their family members. The district level and state level survey committees should have representation of Devadasis and their families,' said R.V. Chandrashekar, a researcher at National Law School of India University (NLSIU), welcoming the decision. Families not covered He said that the previous two surveys had not covered the families, and they had also left out a large number of Devadasis. 'First survey considered only those born 10 years before 1982 and the second survey considered those born before 1982. There should be no condition on age limit in this survey. Devadasis under all age groups should be surveyed. We believe that many have been initiated as Devadasis even after its ban was implemented in 1982,' said Mr. Chandrashekar. He was the petitioner before the SHRC that had also taken up the Devadasi issue suo-motu. The Devadasi system in Karnataka has been prevalent historically, in which women were dedicated to temples mostly as musicians and dancers, but had turned exploitative over time. The erstwhile Maharajas of Mysore were among the earliest to ban the practice in 1907-1908, and the State government banned it in 1982 through the Karnataka Devadasis (Prohibition of Dedication) Act, 1982. Currently, Devadasis are found in 14 districts of Kittur Karnataka and Kalyana Karnataka regions, often living in poverty and facing stigma. According to Mr. Chandrashekar, the effort to uplift Devadasis should not have a piecemeal approach. 'A one-time comprehensive rehabilitation has the potential to eradicate the evil completely,' he argued. He said their study showed that between 1990 and 2024, about 24,284 Devadasi women had received benefits. 'Of the total 46,600 Devadasis identified in the 2007 survey, 22,376 Devadasis have not received any relief. There is no information on those who have died.'
