The practice of families offering their female child to the temples as ‘slaves’ to the deity, called the Devadasi system, has been around for a long time. But while they were considered to be a sacred part of the temple in olden times, this status degraded over the years with most of them being forced into prostitution to earn a living. Along with this, they also became much more prone to sexually transmitted diseases like HIV-AIDS, syphilis, etc., which further degraded their state of living.
Sitavva Joddati was one such girl who was born in the Kabbur village of Belgaum district in Karnataka. She was the youngest of 6 girls and was dedicated to a deity at the age of 7 by her family; by the time she was 17, she already had 3 children. It was around this time that she began to understand the life she was leading had to be changed. She came to know about the self-help groups that worked to build awareness among the Devadasi community. She initially joined Mahila Abhivrudhi Samrakshana Sansthe (MASS) in 1997. She became an active participant and eventually grew in determination & action to become the CEO of the organization. She has been an advocate for women's empowerment ever since and was honored with the Padma Shri award in 2018.
Most of the Devadasi population in India can be found in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. These states enacted the Devadasi (Prohibition of Dedication) Acts during the 1980s. Even then, it continues in the lesser surveilled rural areas. The problem of sexually transmitted diseases is inherently associated with the Devadasi system. A study reports that women who are devadasis are more likely to be tested HIV positive than the national average for sex workers.
Lack of access to thorough sexual health education and medical care among Devadasis is one of the main causes of STDs. Due to their frequent marginalization and prejudice, Devadasis may find it difficult to get healthcare services like STD testing and treatment as well as education about sexual health, including safe sex practices. Moreover, the social stigma associated with Devadasi activities and sex work might prevent them from seeking medical attention, which can result in untreated or poorly managed STDs. The consequences of STDs among devadasis are significant and multi-faceted. Devadasis who contract STDs may suffer from various physical health issues such as genital ulcers, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and reproductive complications, including infertility. They may also experience psychological distress due to the stigma, shame, and discrimination associated with having an STD. Additionally, STDs can have a significant economic impact on Devadasis, as they may face loss of income due to illness and decreased demand for their services.
Sitavva Joddati recounts her awareness visits as having received mixed responses. While her peer groups backed her in an overwhelming response, the rest of the community looked at them as perpetrators of harm to the social structure. They would even go as far as doing physical harm, in her words. This was one of the main hurdles that she had to face in her journey.
Over the years, Joddati has organized several training programs on topics such as women's and children's rights, child psychology, sexually transmitted illnesses, legal procedures, and managing non-profit organizations. She has worked with local healthcare providers and organizations to set up mobile health camps and clinics specifically for Devadasis, where they can receive screenings, diagnosis, and treatment for STDs in a safe and non-judgmental environment. She aims to provide an alternate livelihood to her fellow sisters of the Devadasi community by which they can support themselves and their children, and live with the dignity that is their due.
Sources:
https://www.edexlive.com/people/2018/jul/23/padma-shri-awardee-sitavva-jodatti-has-been-rehabilitating-devadasis-and-kids-for-21-years-3473.html
https://massbelgaum.org/portfolio-items/checking-revival-of-devadasi-system/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4112301/
https://www.thebetterindia.com/54126/devadasi-sitavva-jodatti-mass/
(MSM)
