New AMU female dress code utter nonsense: Social activist Annie Raja

Well known social activist Annie Raja on Saturday described the new dress code for female students at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) as condemnable and utter nonsense.

Interacting with media here, months after after AMU Vice Chancellor Zameer Uddin Shah had said in an open letter that female students would have to wear decent Salwar Kameez with dupatta and Sherwanis if they wanted to meet him on Fridays, or during university functions Raja said: "This is nothing but curtailing the freedom of the girls. It is condemnable and utter nonsense."

"First of all, who will decide that a particular dress is decent or not? It is their (female students) right as to what they want to wear and what not. This proves that girls are used as commodities. In the name of protection and safety, they (the university authorities) are pushing them (students) back to the ancient age," claimed Raja.

"We are not providing them with an environment to come up and empower themselves. Instead of restricting the girls, the boys should be given a strong message about their behavior towards girls," Raja said further.

Raja's acerbic reaction to the irrational AMU decision came aftyer it was announced that students would not be allowed on the campus if they had more than one cell phone, and that female students must wear a "proper and decent salwar kameez with dupatta" at all times and not step in or out of the campus without stating the details.

The new set of diktats was directed specifically at undergraduate students of the Women's College living in the Abdullah Hall of the Aligarh Muslim University.

The university has said that students not adhering to these new rules will attract punitive action, including a fine of up to Rs.500.

The new rules have been cleared by AMU Provost Dr. Ghazala Parveen.

The notice also includes pointers on how to keep the rooms clean, save energy, not use electric appliances like heaters inside their rooms and not to "involve in any illegal activity" that is "unbecoming" of university students.

The notice has upset students and a section of the faculty members in Abdullah Hall, who perceive the notice as yet another "restriction" on the girls.

University PRO Rahat Abrar said the notice has been issued by the Provost of the Abdullah Hall and does not include other women students.