In a city in southern India, women are preparing for the first New Year’s Eve party

MUMBAI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Sithara Shahnawaz is divided between wearing a gown or a traditional salwar kameez when she attends the first all-night New Year’s Eve party for women in her hometown in southern India.

The local government of Perinthalmanna, a small town of about 50,000 people in the state of Kerala, is celebrating New Year celebrations for the first time for a week exclusively for women as an exercise in ‘empowering women’.

The events, aimed at ensuring women are more involved in cultural and business activities, will culminate in an all-night party on December 31 that officials and members of the local community hoped will attract more than 2,000 women.

“Only the boys have celebrated the New Year so far. The Christmas to New Year period was set aside for the holiday, ”Shahnawaz, 23, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Perinthalmanna.

“It’s the first time I’m going out with my friends. I am looking forward to seeing how women fulfill their desire without fear or discomfort. We are all very excited. “

International Labor Organization (ILO) data show that less than a quarter (or 23%) of women aged 15 and over participated in India’s workforce in 2020 compared to approximately 79% of men.

Social norms, patriarchal attitudes, limited choice of job options that are considered safe, lack of public transportation, and safety concerns often prevent women from working in India.

But officials in Perinthalmanna, a semi-urban area known as a health center with several hospitals, said families were comfortable with the women participating in the inaugural New Year’s activities as everything was organized by the government.

Government agencies working on livelihood options and charities that help women start small businesses have partnered with the municipality for the event.

“Women do not go out here because of religious tradition or customs. Many of them are Muslims. For this event, we are confident that they will come out, ”said Dileep Kumar, Perinthalmanna municipality official who oversaw the event.

Kumar said the women had asked them to host a New Year’s Eve celebration during some other women’s empowerment events a few weeks ago in Perinthalmanna.

Social norms and security issues often restrict women’s movements after sunset in many parts of India.

In major Indian cities, police have announced measures, from mobile apps that track a woman’s movement to helplines and patrols, to keep women safe on New Year’s Eve.

But for Perinthalmanna women, social norms are the main barrier.

Subairul Avan, manager of the government’s National Urban Livelihood Mission, said Perinthalmanna was a Muslim-majority city and while there had been progress in educating girls in the past decade, its potential it was not taken advantage of to a great extent.

More than 60% of girls in India have education, but states like Kerala have a rate of over 90%, according to the latest census data from India.

“They don’t reach the mainstream of society and face stigma if they do. This event is for their social empowerment,” Avan said.