Unmarried women are banned from cell phones in a north Indian province

This ban is intended to prevent single women from running away with single men from different castes.

Unmarried young men are still allowed to use a cell phone, but only under the supervision of their parents.

Although this caste system has been abolished for over 60 years, it is still very active in rural areas.

In addition to some women's rights groups, the women in the affected villages have spoken out massively against this ban.

So it remains to be seen whether this ban can really be enforced.

(v.p.)