----------------------- SMILE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE
 In
a world where the celluloid images of Barkha Dutt, Kiran
Bedi and Shoba De dominate, it is very difficult to
imagine an alternate reality. That is the reality of
the joginis- the victims of an ancient, superstitious
and feudal system.
A jogini or basivi or devali is
a young girl who is 'married' to the deity Pochamma
or Yellama, to ward away any evil
that might befall the family. Once dedicated, she first
becomes the concubine of the village headman, and then,
of all the men in the village. A girl could be dedicated
at any age after her birth. Various versions of this
archaic and abusive system are found in the form of
devadasis in Karnataka, maharis in Kerala,
muralis in Maharashtra and matis in Assam.
The practice is centuries old, but it is still prevalent
in various parts of Andhra Pradesh that were previously
part of the former Hyderbad State. A government survey
revealed the existence of 20,000 joginis in over
five districts of Andhra Pradesh.
The good news is that vigorous efforts of NGOs like
Samskar have prompted active government action. Settlements
have been set up, free land distributed and fixed deposits
opened to rehabilitate the joginis.
But the more difficult task is to change a collective
consciousness that deeply believes in the legitimacy
of this practice. Things are slowly but surely changing.
After 12 challenging years, Samskar claims to have liberated
2000 girls and rehabilitated 1800 more. The practice
is almost eliminated in Nizamabad. The success there
has inspired joginis at other places.
Ms. Hemalata Lavanam, Director of Samskar, says: "If
they can distinguish between being respected and disrespected,
three quarters of the rehabilitation is done."
But perhaps what's really required is that society learns
to give respect.
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