He also said that the policy was also against the norms and beliefs of some.
Kozhikode:
Throwing his weight behind the IUML leaders on the ongoing debate in the state over the Left government’s gender neutral policy in schools, senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan on Sunday said that making girls and boys sit together in the classroom will not lead to gender equality.
Terming the Left government’s gender neutral policy in the field of education as a “clean reform”, the Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP said when there was already a system which was working properly, what was the need to change it.
“Not everyone will welcome it. It is not just the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) which is against it. Not many people in Kerala have accepted the concept. It is unnecessary,” Muraleedharan told reporters here.
He also said that the policy was also against the norms and beliefs of some and hence, it should not be imposed on anyone.
Instead the state government should focus on ensuring the safety of women.
Recently, Kerala General Education Minister V Shivankutty criticized the stand of some IUML leaders on the gender neutral policy of the state government, alleging that they were trying to mislead people and wanted to know that they belong to the society. Why am I afraid of equal opportunity for women?
Mr. Sivankutty had also made it clear that if it is a matter of gender neutral uniform or blended schools, the CPI(M)-led government does not impose any compulsion on anyone.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)