Conference Program

Introduction: India is a largest democracy in the world. The constitution ensures equity and inclusion for citizens irrespective of caste, creed, religion, ethnicity and gender. Mission ‘Education to All’- (2001) declared the child-education as a fundamental right and equal opportunities of elementary education to all girls. ‘New Education Policy (NEP-2020)’ emphasized sharp curtail in dropout rates at school level. Similarly, ‘Prime Minister Higher Education Mission’-(2023) focused on equity, access and inclusion of women in higher education. But primitive social system presents other side of the coin. Hattee community is settled in trans-Giri area of Sirmaur District in Himachal Pradesh. These people find their ancestry from the kuru dynasty of epic age and follow the related customs. Fraternal polyandry is in vogue and presently practised. This concept is based on Draupadi system of Mahabharata. Hattee society follows the child marriage. In rare cases, the engagement of unborn babies (in womb) can be settled. A girl is considered as the precious person in the family, who is subject to bride-price. These social evils resist the all-round development of girl children. Consequently, large number of poor girls are forced to drop out of the primary or secondary education. As per survey (2015-16), about four hundred girl-children in shilai sub-division dropped out of primary and middle education. These girls are often lured with rosy picture of bright future by the brokers involved and trafficked to neighboring states of Himachal Pradesh (Ground Reports, 2016). The brokers settle these marriages by taking into confidence the parents and close relatives of poor girls. Sadly, rural girls have to face socio-cultural difficulties in urban areas after marriage. Allegedly, a few girls are dragged into prostitution. Such incidences are unfortunate and put the safety and dignity of hattee women at stake. Slogan of the Government is ‘save girls and teach girls’. Social reformers and thinkers should motivate the hattee people for women-education and cultural renaissance.

Methodology: It is a relevant research question as to what extent primitive social set up resists the gender equality in democratic education system. Diversity of Indian culture provides wider scope for socio-cultural issues. Social evils are the real hindrance in girl’s education and democratic rights? Sources of information include the Administrative and Census Reports, Print media Ground Reports, Ministry of Tribal Affairs Reports, Policy documents of Human Resource Development (Government of India) and selected primary sources. Historical Method has been applied in the study.

Conclusion: In India, democracy ensures equality and inclusion in education for all citizens. Government schemes enforce democratic values in education for weaker sections of society and women. Gender-equality and women empowerment are always ensured.Indian Constitution guarantees gender- equality. Indian democratic system is legal, transparent and explicit but social system and customs are primitive and complex. Hattee community is a unique cultural identity in Himachal Pradesh and India. Its affiliation with the epic age is a distinct feature, which must be preserved. No doubt, evils crept into socio-cultural life of hattee people. To eradicate these evils is the need of hour.