A ‘holy’ custom that forces women into prostitution

A city woman belonging to sexual minority has determined to stand up and fight. Shyamala Devi, a transsexual and a social activist in the city, is up in arms against the 500-year-old social evil Jogini system. “It is a shameful act done by people of the upper caste on the lower caste minor girls to fulfill their sexual desires,’’ says an angry Shayamala Devi.

Shayamala Devi, who has been fighting against prostitution in the name of Jogini system in Hyderabad and the entire state, is busy wiping tears of innocent victims of an evil practice in the name of tradition.

She has determined to fight against the sexual harassment in the name of Jogini for which she is even ready to join politics. “Not that I’m interested in politics, but I will join one which supports my cause and promises to fight against the injustice meted out on hundred of innocent girls,” Shyamala becomes vociferous.

“I have formed Sahaya Jogini Welfare Society to support the victim of the evil system. There are many Joginis in some parts of Hyderabad, but they do not come out in the open as in villages,” she says.

While 95 per cent of joginis belong to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, only a small percentage belongs to the Backward Castes. Even today, on every Tuesday and Friday, joginis go around the village, carrying a slate in their hands which says that they are joginis and beg for food. During weddings, death ceremonies and religious fairs, joginis are invited to bless the event.

“Recently I received a call from a minor girl in Karimnagar who was forced to become a jogini. I sprung into action and rescued her,” Shaymala said. “I will see that the children of joginis are given the same status like other children and not treated as untouchables,” she sounded determined.

After conducting a survey on joginis, Shayamala says she was shocked to learn that there are more than 30,000 joginis in the state and 400 of them in Hyderabad itself. Surprisingly neither the government nor any organization seems concerned about the existence of the jogini system.

Joginis are women forced into prostitution by a religious custom known as devadasi in India. Young girls are married to a local deity and afterwards it becomes their religious duty to provide sexual favors to the local men, usually those of the higher castes.
This practice was banned in 1988, but the law is not being enforced in all parts of India.