Women’s khap mahapanchayat bans love marriages, live-ins

Jind: Women deliberated on social issues at the first all-community women’s khap mahapanchayat organised by Naugama Khap at the Khap Chabutra in Ramrai village of Jind district.During the event, which was conducted by women, the khap decided that the 21 villages under its jurisdiction would not accept love marriages, live-in relationships and the dowry system. They also decided to ban “gun and vulgar culture”.A committee was proposed to work on these issues and create awareness among people by visiting villages, schools, colleges and universities.Naugama Khap president Jaibir Lohan said the initiative was aimed at increasing women’s participation in social decision-making. He said women constitute nearly half of society and should therefore have an equal role in decisions concerning social issues.The mahapanchayat was chaired by Professor Santosh Dahiya, national president of the All-Community, All-Khap Women’s Wing.Speaking on the occasion, CRSU MA student Anshika Dhull expressed confidence in the khap system and credited it with helping women in need. She also highlighted the achievements of women from the region in sports, particularly wrestling.Professor Santosh Dahiya expressed concern over women’s security, saying five rape cases were being reported in Haryana every day. Describing the khap system as an institution that addressed women’s safety, she welcomed the khap’s decision against marriages within the same village, the same gotra or among neighbouring villages.Dahiya said another major decision taken at the mahapanchayat was that anyone found demanding dowry would be publicly questioned and reprimanded at the Khap Chabutra.