Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the state government of Andhra Pradesh to enable the enforcement of the Andhra Pradesh Devadasis (Prohibition of Dedication) Act 1988 through the Andhra Pradesh Devadasis Prohibition of Dedication Rules 2015, and of the impact of that decision on Dalit women and girls in that state.

This question was answered on 6th January 2016
This is ultimately a matter for the Union Government of India and state government of Andhra Pradesh. The UK has worked closely with the Union and state governments in India to strengthen women’s rights and welcomes any new legislation which seeks to further protect women and girls.