Though political parties are dubbing the Supreme Court verdict on dahi handi as interference in Hindu festivals, Swati Patil — the woman whose in 2014, resulted in the Bombay High Court’s landmark order restricting the height of human pyramids to 20 feet and banning participation of those below 18 years of age — has said that the commercialisation of the festival, and the rise in injuries to govindas, had prompted her to draw the High Court’s attention to the issue. “I have been working to create awareness of dahi handi for the last six years. I have seen govindas getting injured and even die during the event. The competitiveness is being increased every year. Even during practice sessions, govindas suffer injuries,” she said on Monday, demanding that the State comply with the HC order on local monitoring committees in every ward.
In 2015, she filed a contempt petition against the Maharashtra government for not complying with the High Court directions. In August 2016, the State government moved the Supreme Court, seeking a clarification on the height of human pyramids. The apex court directed the implementation of the impugned HC order and declared that the order shall continue to remain in force till the petition is finally decided except directions contained in Para 5 and Para 8.
Ms. Patil, who is secretary of the NGO, Utakarsh Mahila Samajik Sansthaa, hs had other.successful interventions. She had filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court to reduce the weight of the school bags and sought implementation of an April 2006 government resolution (GR) which includes making available lockers for children. Last month, the State informed the HC that the government had inspected 17,235 schools and achieved an 87.45 per cent compliance of the HC order.
She is also working to create awareness of how to avoid higher electricity bills, and has also taken up the issue of potholes.
She wrote letters to the Chief Minister and Public Works Minister Chandrakant Patil demanding concession in toll fees at least during the monsoon months. “It’s very saddening that nobody has time for all these things and I have to move to courts for such simple things,” she laments.
The writer is an intern at The Hindu
