JOGINI Religious Sex Slavery In Telangana – Free PDF Download

The News

• In October 2020, the district administration in Nizamabad, Telangana, rescued a 25-year-old woman from being converted into a ‘jogini.
  • The woman is a member of the Madiga community, which is classified as a Scheduled Caste (SC) in Telangana.
• After her rescue, the authorities refused to hand over the woman to her mother until the latter agreed to not push her into this practice.
• This has brought the limelight back on the banned practice of Jogini or Devadasi.

What is this Jogini?

• Jogini is a centuries-old practice where girls as young as 12 years old, mostly from the marginalised Dalit-Bahujan communities are married off to the local village deity as part of a religious belief.
• It is a belief that the ritual will please the gods, which will improve the lives of Jogini family.

Jogini practice sounds good but but but…

• In the early days, jogini or Devadasi were considered property of the temple, their primary duty was indulging in cultural activities related to the temple shrine.
• However, in the following centuries, it morphed into something completely different..!!
  • Later on Joginis were obligated to cater to the sexual needs of temple patrons, village heads etc.
  • Further, this ensued in a form that saw the women forced to cater to every man in their village.

The Ugly Truth

Status today – AP/Telangana

• Jogini practice was banned in 1988 by the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh government.

• However, even after 32 years, this system is very much alive in many pockets of Telangana.
• Jogini practice is still prevalent in districts such as Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet, Nizamabad, Medak, and Gadwal, and areas along the Telangana-Karnataka border.
  • Jogini/Devadasi/Mathamma/amababai

The Numbers

• In 2010, a commission formed by the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh governmentestimated that there were around 80,000 joginis in the then united state.
  • Around 50,000 of them were believed to be in areas that now constitute Telangana.
  • Operation Mercy India (OMI) NGO
  • “We encounter atleast 15 cases of Jogini every year”.
  • It is believed that the number could be higher in the state’s interiors and the cases are probably not reported. OMI said the number of joginis in Telangana right now may be as high as 70,000.

The recommendations

• The commission formed in 2010 offered recommendations on rehabilitating Joginis
  • Free medical aid
  • 2% reservations in government jobs
  • Two acres of fertile land with free water & electricity
  • Create a separate fund and a committee dedicated to their welfare
• Sad fact..!!
  • Even after ten years, hardly any of these suggestions have been implemented.

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