'Government keeps denying that FGM is practiced in India': Prof. Zenab Bano speaks to Indira Jaising
Indira Jaising
Published on: 7 February 2026, 08:32 am
In this episode of Conversations with The Leaflet, Dr. Zenab Bano, is a former Professor at MLS University in Udaipur, and a long-time advocate against female genital mutilation (FGM), is in conversation with Indira Jaising, co-founder of The Leaflet and Senior Advocate. The discussion marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and focuses on the lived realities of FGM, its medical and psychological consequences, and the silence that continues to surround the practice in India.
Drawing from her own experience and her engagement with survivors and affected communities, Dr Bano speaks about the harm caused by FGM, the Indian government's continued denial regarding the practice, the social pitfalls of resisting against heinous practices within communities, and why the matter is now being argued in courts.
This episode is essential viewing for lawyers, students, healthcare professionals, activists, and anyone concerned with gender justice, bodily autonomy, and the eradication of harmful practices through constitutional and human rights frameworks.