Talk about a gag order! A village in India has prohibited the use of cell phones…by women. The Times of India recently reported that the local municipality near the city of Patna in northern India will administer of fine of 2,000 rupees (about $37) on every married woman who is caught using a cellphone outside her home. For unmarried women, the fine will be 10,000 rupees (about $184).
Said the gent who presided over the meeting of village elders (presumably all male) where the new rule was conceived:
“Mobile phone is the cause of all evils in our society, including increasing love affairs and the incidents of elopement.”
This village isn’t the first to implement such a fine. Prevailing wisdom says that young couples who elope and marry against their parents’ wishes usually make their plans via cellphone. Ergo, no more cellphones = no more elopements. Can’t argue with that sort of logic.