The Rajasthan government has courted controversy after a government-issued magazine advised women to grind grains and sweep the floor in order to stay fit. The sexist article, that appeared in a monthly magazine called Shivara, has drawn a lot of criticism from women’s groups and activists.
According to a Hindustan Times report, the 52-page November issue of the magazine, which is aimed at teachers, includes a set of 14 instructions under the column ‘Swasth rehne ke saral upaay (simple ways of staying fit).
The article states that in order to stay fit, women can churn buttermilk and carry water pitchers other than jogging and doing yoga. The article also states that while morning walks, running, or any other sport is great for health, women can stay “fit by doing various household chores.”
The article also advises against consuming alcohol and soft drinks, namely Pepsi and Coca Cola. Kavita Srivastava, the national secretary of The People’s Union for Civil Liberties, told the Hindustan Times:
It’s very shameful that the education department is reinforcing the same stereotypes that education is supposed to liberate us from
However, this isn’t the first time that the Rajasthan government advisory has landed in a controversy.
The revised physical health and education textbook introduced this year says that eating meat causes a lot of harm to the body. Furthermore, a chapter on balanced diet in the book carries a six-line mantra to be chanted by students before meals.
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