Men shouldn't cut women's hair, tailor their clothes: UP body's proposal

Babita Chouhan, chief of the Uttar Pradesh Women's Commission, said school buses transporting girls should mandatorily have a female staffer and proposed the installation of CCTV cameras in coaching centres.

In Short

• Gyms for women must employ female trainers, says UP Women's Commission
• Proposes women staffers on school buses transporting girls
• Suggests installation of CCTV cameras in coaching centres

The Uttar Pradesh State Women's Commission has proposed that men should neither tailor clothes for women nor cut their hair as part of an initiative to protect women from "bad touch" and avoid any "ill intentions" by male workers in these professions.

Babita Chouhan, chief of the Uttar Pradesh Women's Commission, also said that gyms catering to female clients must employ women trainers. She also proposed that police verification of all gym trainers be made mandatory. "If a woman wishes to train with a male trainer, she will need to provide written consent," Chouhan said.

The suggestions were made by the women's body during a meeting held on October 28. Chouhan said the commission received several complaints from women about harassment in gyms.

She emphasised that tailor shops must ensure a woman tailor was available for taking measurements, and school buses transporting girls should mandatorily have a female staff member on board. She also proposed the installation of CCTV cameras in coaching centres. The commission has sent the proposals to all districts.

Himani Agarwal, a member of the women's body, told PTI that the commission would subsequently request the state government to make laws in this regard.

(With inputs from Santosh Sharma)