Mamata Sharma objects to dress code set by institute banning girls from going sleeveless

National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Mamata Sharma expressed strong objections on Thursday about Devi Ahilyabai Vishwa Vidyalaya's (DAVV) Institute of Management Studies (IMS)'s directive asking girls not to wear sleeveless dresses in the institute's premises.

Institute Director P N Mishra had enforced a "dress code" directing girl students not to wear sleeveless dresses in institute premises.

The IMS Director had issued a directive banning girl students from wearing sleeveless dresses as well as T-shirts and shorts with printed dual-meaning messages.

Sources said that when three girl students went to the institute wearing sleeveless dresses in protest, they were asked to write an essay on Indian culture by the authorities.

Defending his decision, Mishra said girl students studying management should learn about culture and traditions of the country.

"We are not opposing any special dress but insisting that the dress should be decent and students should focus on studies only," he said.

Mamata Sharma told reporters heret that "if this institute has enforced such a dress code, then it is a totally wrong decision".

It appears as if the institute is of the opinion that incidents of molestation and rapes take place because of women wear sleeveless dresses, which is highly objectionable, she said.

The NCW chairperson asked whether a seven-year-old girl or an 80-year-old woman is being raped in the country just because of sleeveless dresses.

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