The next time a woman is seen wearing a “maxi” or a “nightie” on the roads of Gothivali village in Navi Mumbai, she could be charged a fine of Rs 500. This is a new diktat issued by one Indrayani Mahila Mandal, a local women’s group in the village, to prevent rapes and sexual assaults on women.

One of the members of the group, Laxmi Patil, told The Indian Express that “such kind” of attire worn by women outdoors is the reason behind all the crime happening against them. “The “maxi” (or nightie as many call it) has become very common these days and it looks absurd,” Patil said.

The women otherwise wear saree in this village. “Maxi cha fashion, aagi sarka pasarlay amchya gavat (the maxi fad has spread like wildfire in the entire village),” Patil added.

The Mahila Mandal had Sunday put up a notice board in the village announcing the diktat. The notice reads: “Gothivali gavatil sarva mahilanna hey suchit karnyaat yet aahe ki, gavatil parisarat athva rastyavar “maxi” ghalun phirnyaas sakt manaai aahe. Aadhalyaas Rs 500 dund aakarnyaat yeil (all the women in Gotivali village are hereby informed that if any of them is seen wearing ‘maxi’ outside their homes in the village or walking on the roads will be fined Rs 500.)”

However, after several women in the village opposed the diktat, local police intervened in the matter.

S Gojre, senior police inspector at Rabale police station, said, “No gram panchayat or local mahila mandal has the right to frame such rules and fine villagers like this. We had a meeting with the members of Indrayani Mahila Mandal and have warned them against taking such steps. We have also confiscated the notice board.”

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