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UPSC MainsGeneral Studies Paper IVEthicsPractice question

Ensuring Girls' Safety and Addressing Rural Patriarchal Attitudes

(a) What steps would you take to ensure girls' safety without disrupting their education? (b) How would you manage and mould patriarchic attitude of the village elders to ensure harmony in the inter-generational relations?

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How to approach

Begin by identifying the core ethical dilemma and primary stakeholders involved in the situation. Detail actionable administrative, community-based, and security measures to ensure safe school access without restricting girls' mobility. Suggest persuasive, non-confrontational strategies leveraging government schemes and community leaders to reform patriarchal attitudes and foster inter-generational harmony.

Model answer

370 words

Introduction

This scenario highlights an ethical dilemma balancing the constitutional guarantee of girls' Right to Education (Article 21A) and personal safety against prevailing patriarchal orthodoxy and safety concerns in rural areas. The key stakeholders involved are school-going girls, anxious parents, conservative village elders, local law enforcement, and the district administration.

Steps to Ensure Girls' Safety Without Disrupting Education

Rather than adopting regressive approaches such as confining girls to their homes or shifting solely to remote education, affirmative administrative and community actions must be deployed to secure physical environments:

  • Visible Law Enforcement: Deploy dedicated Nirbhaya Squads and Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs) along identified vulnerable school commute routes to actively deter harassment and eve-teasing. Ensure swift and strict registration of offenses under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
  • Community-Driven Escort Systems: Mobilize Gram Panchayat members and local Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) to establish a rotational 'safe-passage' escort mechanism for girls travelling to and from educational institutions.
  • Infrastructure and Capacity Building: Implement self-defense training through programs like Rani Laxmibai Atma Raksha Prashikshan in schools to instill confidence, alongside installing targeted solar lighting and CCTV surveillance at vulnerable transit points.

Managing and Moulding Patriarchal Attitudes for Inter-Generational Harmony

Reforming deep-seated social mindsets requires persuasive nudges, dialogue, and positive reinforcement rather than aggressive confrontation:

  • Behavioral Nudges via Jan Andolan: Leverage grassroots campaigns such as the Ministry of Rural Development's Nai Chetna initiative and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao to trigger community-led discussions confronting gender-based restrictions and emphasizing female dignity.
  • Institutional Mediation and Dialogue: Form joint Mohalla Samitis or Village Peace Committees comprising respected elders, youth representatives, educators, and local officials. This platform allows structured, respectful discussions to address inter-generational differences without eroding elders' social standing.
  • Demonstrating Tangible Value (Role-Modeling): Showcase local female success stories, including Lakhpati Didis and women public officials, to tangibly prove that educated daughters generate economic prosperity, stability, and honour for the entire community.

Conclusion

Long-term social progress demands synchronizing firm legal protection (Sambal) with community-led empowerment (Samarthya) under the Mission Shakti framework. By cultivating shared ownership and mutual respect, village elders can be transitioned from traditional gatekeepers into active champions and guardians of girls' rights.

Key facts to remember

scheme
Mission Shakti (Sambal and Samarthya)

An umbrella scheme by the Ministry of Women and Child Development dedicated to women's safety, security (Sambal), and socio-economic empowerment (Samarthya).

scheme
Nai Chetna Gender Campaign

A nationwide community-led campaign launched under DAY-NRLM to raise awareness against gender-based violence and foster collective institutional action.

example
Community-Led Safe Corridors

Rotational village escort systems organized by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM ensure safe transit for schoolgirls without compromising their physical access to education.

Frequently asked questions

Why should online schooling be avoided as a primary solution for rural girls' safety?

Relying entirely on remote or online education compounds the rural digital divide and reinforces patriarchal confinement, undermining girls' socialization, physical mobility, and right to regular school attendance.

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