How Countrywide Criticism Led UP Govt To Revoke Evening Classes Ban

UP government has revoked its ban on evening coaching classes for girls. The initiative, which was aimed at helping women return to their homes by early evening, received widespread criticism from citizens. As a part of the Safe City Project, the UP Government had decided to ban private coaching institutes from conducting late evening classes. According to the government’s spokesperson, this initiative will help women reach home on time i.e. by early evening. The institutes have also been directed to ensure the safety of girls from the time of their arrival to departure and monitor the troublemakers and incidents of molestation. Sure women’s safety is necessary but should that come at the cost of their freedom?

This is not the first time that a government’s attempt to ensure women’s safety has faltered in understanding the concept of safety as well as freedom of women.

In the year 2021, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, called for an increase in the marriageable age of women to ensure their safety from crimes committed against women. Moreover, he also asked women who live away from parental homes for work purposes to register themselves with the Police so that their movement can be tracked and hence they can be protected from crimes. `

Is this move control of freedom in disguise of safety?

Both governments here are committing the same mistake- of misunderstanding what the safety and security of women means. Both governments have confused the safety of women with their restrictions under societal rules and regulations. If we talk about the current situation, the UP government’s initiative clearly shows how toxic it can be for women in the state. Not allowing women to attend late evening classes will not only keep them away from another chance to be better educated but will also create discrimination between men and women. While men will be able to attend those classes without any restriction or fear, women will miss out on the lessons being taught at that hour.

Furthermore, who decides that the evening hour is unsafe for women? Is it not true that women get harassed on streets in the broad daylight too? 

Moreover, let us turn our faces away from the fact that many people consider safety issues as a disadvantage for women and at times an advantage for men. What is the guarantee that the teachers in the coaching centre will refrain from teaching important lessons during late evening classes because female students are absent? Is it not true that many families stop women from going out to study using safety as a reason or excuse? Does this not show that the government is ignoring the fact that women too need to be included in the circle of bright students who are dedicated towards their studies? Is it not fanning the ideology that women need to be locked up at home to keep them safe?

I am not denying the fact that women are unsafe on the streets. According to a study of 2022, more than 80 per cent of women commuters have faced harassment but only one per cent of them register complaints. But to tackle this, we need safety measures that address the culprits or the possible culprits rather than directing women what and what not to do. Safety issues are not the fault of a woman. It is the fault of the patriarchal mindset and rape culture of the society. 

So dear leaders, thank you for considering our safety as your primary concern. But please don’t snatch our freedom meanwhile. Please don’t forget that we too are humans and no human lives under restrictions until and unless a regime is controlling them. Be our leaders, not dictators. 

Views expressed by the author are their own