The diktat by a local panchayat in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district prohibiting women from taking up jobs has been withdrawn.

"Women in Godawali and Sarai villages of Haridwar district have started going to work in factories in the nearby industrial area after the diktat was withdrawn by the panchayat," District Magistrate, Haridwar, R Meenakshisundaram said today.

The village panchayat had last week issued the decree banning women from pursuing jobs, saying it was a disgrace to their religion and families.

The panchayat had ruled that a woman can go to work only when at least one male member of her family also works at the same place so that she can be escorted by him.

It had threatened that a woman found offending the decree would be whipped publicly and a fine of Rs 5,100 would be imposed on her family, which would also face social boycott from the community.

The diktat was issued after a girl of Gadowali village had eloped with a male colleague from a different community a few weeks ago.

Taking a serious note of the matter, Uttarakhand Women's Commission had directed the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police to initiate action against the culprits.

Following intervention of the administration and police, the panchayat withdrew the diktat on Friday.

About 18-20 women of both villages working in various factories in Haridwar's SIDCUL industrial area were being affected by the decree, Haridwar Superintendent of Police (City) K L Shah said.