The Lakshadweep administration has introduced a new pattern of uniform in schools in the Union Territory. The decision, issued on April 8, 2023, has met with strong condemnation from the Congress party. The party has warned of intense protests, including mass class boycotts by students against the new dress code directives.
A delegation of legislators met with the director of education on Monday, 11 April, to register their opposition to the change in the uniform. The delegation stated that the imminent change “may not abide by the culture of the island’s people”.
As per the new directives, the school uniform pattern of girl students will undergo a change – short-sleeves instead of long ones and divided-skirts instead of salwar-kameez.
Since this union territory is in close proximity to Kerala, its culture is quite similar to that of Kerala.
Lakshadweep Congress leader and ex-MP Hamdullah Sayeed alleged that the new dress code directive, which is silent on hijabs or scarves for girl students, amounted to destroying the intrinsic culture and lifestyle of islanders in the Muslim-dominated archipelago.
He charged that the BJP-led government at the Centre and the Lakshadweep administration were continuously attempting to implement anti-people policies that were totally against the culture and ethos of the islands
The directives, issued by Rakesh Singhal, director of education, Lakshadweep, is being seen as the latest one among a slew of changes introduced after the appointment of Praful Khoda Patel as the UT’s administrator. Earlier, the UT had introduced liquor stores, Goonda Act, two-child policy for panchayat poll aspirants, and a beef ban.
The tender notice indicates that the uniform for girl students up to Class five will be half-sleeve shirts and skirts, and for girls from Class 6 to Class 12, the uniform will be divided-skirts and half-sleeve shirts. Currently, junior school girls wear long-sleeve shirts and skirts and senior school girls wear salwar-kameez. Headscarves or hijabs find no mention in the tender notice.
Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF) has asked the Centre to reconsider the new decision, stating that the move amounts to an attack on the islanders’ culture. The move could destroy the islanders’ independence, SKSSF said. Teachers, parents, panchayat leaders, and legislators too have slammed this “undemocratic and authoritative” move.
The culture in the islands is such that girls cover their legs. How can they suddenly impose a rule that is contrary to our belief system?
Sathar Panthaloor, Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation
Lakshadweep is a the smallest union territory of India. The culture of Lakshadweep is quite rich and presents a pulsating forum of diversified customs and rituals. The islands are predominantly inhabited by followers of the Islam. However, people of other religions also live in a harmonious co-existence.
The majority of Lakshadweep natives speak this Malyalam, the language spoken by Keralites. Yet it has many cultural factors that make the island territory unique. According to the 1681 census, 11 languages as stated in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution are spoken as the mother tongue in Lakshadweep. Of which the prominent ones are Malayalam and Mahl, spoken by the people of Minicoy.
According to the 2011 census, the Union Territory’s literacy rate is over 92 percent, as against the national average of 74 percent. Also, Lakshadweep has a healthy sex ratio of 1,187 females for 1,000 males, according to the 2019-20 National Health and Family Survey (NFHS-5).
The majority of the people of islands depend on coconut and fishing for occupation. The abundance of flora and fauna, and the absence of a rushed lifestyle increase the beauty of this archipelago.
However, political rights and civil liberties in Lakshadweep have declined to its lowest point since the advent of the dictatorial policies of Lakshadweep’s new administration.
On March 30, Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal staged a walkout from an event at Kavaratti after lambasting what he regarded as the “brutal governance” of the administration that has also drawn flak from locals & environmentalists for its recent proposals to build 370 beach-villas.
The Congress party has made it clear that it would launch a series of democratic agitations if the directives on uniform are not rolled back.
