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Kerala: Legislation on cards for widows' welfare

Even though the minister rejected the presenting of the bill citing technical reasons, she said that the government upheld the essence of the bill.

Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister K K Shailaja Teacher told the Assembly on Friday that the government would consider bringing in a piece of legislation for the welfare and safety of widows. Participating in a discussion over a bill mooted by CPM MLA Pratibha Hari for the welfare and safety of women, MLAs cutting across party lines stressed the need for addressing the social stigma and insecurity faced by widows.

Suggestions like males getting married to older women was also suggested as a solution to decrease the number of widows and in this context, even cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who is six years younger than his wife, was cited as an instance. Even though the minister rejected the presenting of the bill citing technical reasons, she said that the government upheld the essence of the bill.

Presenting the bill, which was the first private members bill of the current legislative assembly, Pratibha suggested that the service of lawyers should be made available at panchayats and that widows should be given the status of ‘privileged sister’. Women estranged from their husbands, unwed mothers and unmarried women above 40 shall also be considered as widows as per the proposed bil.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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