Eradicate Devadasi system: CJ

Vijayawada: High Court Chief Justice S Praveen Kumar stressed on the need to eradicate Devadasi system from the society. Addressing a seminar on the eradication of Devadasi and Jogini System here on Tuesday, he said the Devadasi system was a social evil and everyone should work for eradicating it from the society.

He called upon the people to work to provide equal social justice to those who are living as Devadasis and Joginis. He pointed out that evil system had been prevailing in seven districts in the State. No case was reported so far though enactments were introduced in 1988 and 2015 to eradicate the system, he said.

He also asked the governments to do justice to Devadasis and Joginis by providing all kind of support to them towards living with equal justice. The governments should provide financial help to them by designing special plans, he suggested.

Justice KC Bhanu said that nearly 80,000 Devadasis were living in the State out of which 80 per cent belonged to the scheduled castes and remaining to the scheduled tribes. He said that they were opting for the Devadasis system due to their poverty. He asked the government to provide proper training to the revenue department to implement Acts and eradicate the system.

Social Welfare Department Principal Secretary M Ravichandra, Women and Child Welfare Department Principal Secretary K Damayanti, Krishna District Collector Md Imtiaz, SC Corporation Director G Chandrudu and several other officials were present.