In an effort to cut down on rape, Mumbai wants to ban scantily clad mannequins.

The civic body passed a resolution to ban bikini-wearing mannequins in lingerie shops. The municipal commissioner has yet to approve it.

Ritu Tawade, who proposed the ban, told the BBC that displaying sexy clothing "indirectly or directly leads to rape."

Some shopkeepers welcomed the idea, while others expressed concern it would harm sales.

Activist Arundhati Ghosh dismissed the proposal as "gimmicky and cheap."

"The real issue is that men need to learn what consent means. It has very little to do with what women wear. Measures like implementation of sex education in schools are necessary to develop a sense of respect towards women at a young age. Stricter laws regarding harassment in the workplace and faster trials are what the government should be concentrating on," she told the Times of India.

A series of brutal gang rapes have prompted Indians to demand stronger protections for women in recent months.