Girls should focus more on education than on dressing, says youngest female sarpanch

With girl students of the Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology protesting against the administration's order on dress code, youngest female sarpanch in the nation, Bhakti Sharma on Friday said that girls should focus more on education than on dressing matters.

The sarpanch of Barkhedi panchayat said even the college management should have discussed with the students before imposing the rule.

"Saying that we are in 21st century and we be allowed to wear any dress is wrong. Even in countries like America there are lots of restrictions. Even the management there should understand and discuss about dress code with the students. We cannot forcibly impose anything on youth today," Sharma told ANI.

"Some girls wear short skirts, college should decide on days for colored clothing. Even the girls should understand that their parents spent a lot on their education, so it is better if we are going to college then we focus on studies. After 22 years you can wear whatever you want," she added.

Female students of Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT) in Bhopal on Friday raised slogans and staged a protest over dress code and hostel timings.

The protesting students alleged that the institute authorities have stipulated 9.30 p.m. as the deadline for them to enter the hostel, while there is no such restriction on boys.

In the same notice, the administration of the institute had also asked girls not to wear shorts and skirts on the campus. However, the decision was later dropped after protests by the students.