BMC calls for removal of lingerie mannequins

Mumbai: The Law committee of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) directed the civic administration for removal of mannequins displaying female lingerie outside garment stores.

The committee headed by Shiv Sena corporator, Sheetal Mhatre, is upset over lingerie mannequins hanging from trees and displayed alongside roads saying it is against the Indian culture and is disrespectful to women.

According to the order passed by the committee on June 17, if any shopkeeper defaults, their license would be cancelled. The BMC administration is expected to start taking action in the next 15 days.

This is not the first time this issue is taken up by the Shiv Sena, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) led BMC committees.

In 2014, BJP corporator Ritu Tawade had raised a notice of motion in general body meeting saying mannequins displaying female lingerie publicly should be removed strictly as it is violation of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986.

“The Act passed in 1986 and amended in 2012 prohibits representation of women through advertisements, in publications, in figures or any other manner. It is against the Indian culture, is obscenity and an insult to a woman’s body,” said Ms Tawade.

The civic administration has promised the law committee strict action against display of mannequins outside shops, however, the BMC cannot remove mannequins displayed inside the shop as it falls under state government.

“I have met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on this issue. The chief minister has promised that the government shall look in to the issue and take the required steps,” Ms Tawade added.

Few women members of the Shiv Sena also protested in Vile Parle outside lingerie shops displaying mannequins.

They tore the posters displaying undergarments and demanded removal of mannequins.

However, on the other hand the lawyers and shop owners are not happy with the Shiv Sena and BJP saying that displaying female lingerie is not eroticism or vulgarity but purely for business purposes.

Advocate Abha Singh said, “Display of lingerie does not get covered under Indecent Representation of Women’s (Prohibition) Act as it is done purely for promotional and commercial purposes. The intention is not to promote eroticism.”

Ms Singh, who is also an activist on social issues, said that Shiv Sena’s demand was regressive in nature and was not acceptable. They should be focusing on potholes and flooding in Mumbai during monsoon rather than this cheap gimmick.

Meanwhile, the female lingerie shop owners are against this political decision.

Rajashree Shete who owns a female garment shop in Chembur said, “We are selling lingerie for the past 10 to 15 years and placing mannequins that displays lingerie is important to attract customers. The intention is only commercial advertising and there is nothing vulgar about it. All that displayed are what women wear and are only for customers knowledge regarding the various types of garments available at our store.”

However, commenting on this Ms Tawade said that women were aware and knowledgeable enough to understand which shops sell undergarments. The shop owners could mention it in their name boards in Marathi,

Hindi and English and there is no need for open display of lingerie on mannequins.