Why do traditions in our society impede change? To what extent can social legislation be instrumental against old customary practices?

• RELIGIOUS REASONS :- A change may violate some religious principles or beliefs. Eg:- women of menstruating age should not enter Sabrimala Temple as the deity is a celibate.

• SOCIAL RIGIDITY :- Social norms to protect girls might prevent change. Eg:- Girls in Karnataka unwilling to give up hijab as they fear that boys would stare them if they don't cover their face with hijab.

• HISTORICAL LEGACY :- Since a long time, Hindu women have been applying sindoor and observing 'Karva chauth' for the health of their husbands.

• ECONOMIC COMPULSIONS :- to collect revenue prevent the state governments from exiting from the business of liquor.

• LACK OF ACCOMMODATIVE SPIRIT :- prevents the society from accepting new norms like same-sex marriages, inter-faith marriages.

• LACK OF INCENTIVES :- to switch to crop diversification makes the farmers grow crops like paddy and wheat for which MSP is given.

To change these customary old practices, a social legislation can be instrumental.

REASONS :-

→ When society itself develops a framework to bring changes in its practices, the new framework is then well-deliberated and more acceptable to the members of the society.

→ Violation of social legislation can lead to social boycott.

→ However, since social legislation is not enforceable by law, hence it is not binding on public as per law.

→ At max, social boycott can occur for disobeying social rules but no legal punishment can be given to farmers if they do not stop growing paddy, for example.