Women can't progress till 'ghoonghat' exists, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot :

1. Stressing on the importance of women empowerment in nation-building, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot  said the custom of ''ghoonghat'' must be eradicated at the earliest.

2. Expressing displeasure at the practice of covering women's faces with a ''ghoonghat'' or veil in some rural areas, the custom belongs to a bygone era.

3. Time has changed now but the practice of ''ghoonghat'' is still there in villages. What is right in confining a woman to ''ghoonghat''? Women cannot progress till the ''ghoonghat'' exists.

4. Women will be able to come forward and play a constructive role in nation-building only when they are not forced to cover their faces."Women are empowered. They have the capacity to bring changes in society and their role is very crucial.

5. CM also emphasized the importance of completely eradicating the practice of child marriages, saying it destroys the lives of children.

6. The chief minister said his government is serious about crime against women and therefore decided earlier this year to depute a senior police officer at the district level to monitor cases of crime against women.The officer will look after all such cases and will ensure that justice is done.

7. The state government has been providing self-defence training to school girls, he has now directed officials to extend the programme to all girls willing to join it.He also highlighted schemes and programmes of his government and launched a book based on women's struggles.

8. Also launched a book called 'Badlav ki Misaal'- Ekal Mahilayen, which stressed on how single women are bringing a positive change in society.

About Ghunghat Custom :

Ghunghat is practiced in most of North Indian states. It involves covering of the face, (only by women) with the end of their sari/dupatta. Ghunghat is observed when married Indian women are in their sasural (in laws’ home, village or even city), and also in presence of the in laws, anywhere, like if they visit the woman’s parental home or village (maika).Not observing ghunghat maybe seen as being disrespectful and shameless.