Lingerie sporting mannequins displayed on shop windows here would be thing of the past if the elected representatives of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation have their way.
The general body of the Mumbai civic body have unanimously passed a resolution to stop the display of mannequins in ‘revealing’ attire on shop windows.
Though the elected representatives do not want the mannequins to be completely banned, they claimed that it would be better if the the mannequins were placed inside the shop.
Some elected representatives even said that mannequins sporting lingerie were being perceived as ‘sex toys’.
Shops in Mumbai operate under the licence from the Mumbai civic body and have to abide by the norms for the same.
Mumbai corporators are hoping that they would be able to banish the ‘objectionable’ mannequins from shop windows by amending the rules related to the licences for the shops.
The Municipal Commissioner would have the final say on this issue and the corporators are hoping that civic chief would oblige.
The resolution was moved by Ritu Tawade, a woman corporator belonging to the BJP.
In fact, a majority the corporators who sought to banish the lingerie mannequins were women.
With women elected representatives taking initiative against ‘obscenity’, male corporators had little choice but to back in the move.
“When women do not buy lingerie tempted by semi-nude mannequins displayed in full public view in shop windows, what is the need for these?” asked the corporator.
Ritu Tawade added that such visuals in public may provoke perverted men to commit crimes against women.
In the past, leaders of political parties such as the Shiv Sena have attacked shops for ‘vulgar’ mannequins in and around the megapolis.