Days after banning recruitment of pregnant women as government teachers and then rolling back the order following protests, the Haryana government finds itself in the midst of another controversy — this time over one of its departments banning jeans and t-shirts for its employees.
Directing its field staff to wear “decent” clothes, the state Woman and Child Department (WCD) has asked the employees not to wear jeans and t-shirts to work. The circular issued on April 18 was sent by the then WCD director Renu Phulia’s office to all field offices that run the Integrated Child Development Scheme and Integrated Child Protection Scheme. The circular’s subject line reads: “To wear decent clothes in office.” Phulia is currently posted as Deputy Commissioner, Karnal.
The circular describes “sari/salwar-kameez with dupatta” for women and “pant-shirt” for men as “decent” clothing.
It says: “It has been observed that some officers/officials come to office in jeans/T-shirts/Western dresses which sometimes not only look odd but are also in contravention of government rules.”
Caught on the backfoot after media highlighted the issue, WCD Minister Geeta Bhukkal said: “If anybody’s sentiments are hurt, because of the usage of the word — decent dress — we shall review the wording of the circular.”
Defending the department’s decision, Bhukkal told mediapersons: “Maybe, the problem is due to the usage of the word ‘decent’ dress. Otherwise, there is a dress code for various professions. Judges, lawyers, doctors, everyone has to adhere to the prescribed dress code. What the circular says is that the dress code is as per ICDS and ICPS norms since the staff have to go for field work. Even anganwadi workers have a dress code. Dress codes exist in government offices and even in private sector. If anyone is hurt by the order, we can review its wording.”
The minister, under whom the WCD functions, the secretary of the department and the director are all women and had been wearing the traditional attires of salwar-kameez with a dupatta or a saree to workplaces.
–Agencies