Uttar Pradesh: No Men Tailors, Barbers & Trainers for Women
The UP Govt is considering new measures to improve women's safety, including restrictions on male workers in certain roles and increased female security presence in public spaces.
The Uttar Pradesh Government is considering new steps to improve safety for women. On 28th October 2024, the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission held a meeting in Lucknow to discuss various ways to enhance women’s security.
The commission proposed some rules. These include not allowing male tailors to take women’s measurements, male barbers to style women’s hair, and restricting men from training women in gyms and yoga classes. They also suggested having female security on school buses and hiring female staff in women’s clothing stores to ensure safety.
Maneesha Ahlawat, a member of the commission, mentioned that these ideas are still in the discussion stage and need to be checked for feasibility. Once finalized, they will be sent to the government for approval.
Meanwhile, Hamid Hussain, an officer in Shamli district, has already asked local businesses to follow some guidelines. He recommended hiring female trainers in women’s gyms, yoga centers, and drama classes. Hussain also asked for CCTV cameras with recording capabilities to be installed in these places, and female security staff should be present on school buses. Additionally, boutiques should employ female tailors, and stores selling women’s clothing should have female staff to assist customers.
These suggestions have received mixed reactions. Samajwadi Party MLA Ragini Sonkar raised concerns, saying it should be an individual choice whether a woman prefers a male or female assistant. On the other hand, local social workers and business owners expressed support. Supriya Kohli, who runs a boutique in Lucknow, said she has no issue with these changes, as they will help make customers feel safer.
These new measures come as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure women’s safety. In 2022, the UP government released rules preventing female workers from working night shifts in factories without their written consent. Similarly, in September 2024, the Haryana police introduced a real-time location tracking feature on WhatsApp, which allows women to share their live location with the police for extra security.
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