Draft policy spells better times for women
A new draft policy for women, that has been published by the state on the eve of International Women’s Day, proposes that names of females should be included on all property papers along with her husband. The draft was published by the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan at Shivchhatrapati Krida Sankul at Pune, attended by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, women and child welfare minister Varsha Gaikwad, minister for cooperation Harshwardhan Patil, minister of state for school education Fauziya Khan and many other dignitaries.
The government has also sought suggestions and objections from the people on the draft, which has been uploaded on www.maharashtra.womenspolicy.com. The draft focused on all the issues faced by women, right from domestic violence to the problems encountered by them in every sector.
According to the drafted policy, a woman can put up her child for adoption after divorce without the husband’s permission. She can also seek maintenance in live-in relationships as well. It proposed a special fund from the state government to provide maintenance to women if her husband does not provide it.
According to the 76-page draft, 14 districts with an abysmal sex ratio will be notified as critical districts. A woman can use whatever name she likes and the state will not insist on her using the surname of either her father or her husband. The Maternity Benefit Act will apply to all women working under contract. It will be mandatory for all the TV channels to display and publicise women’s rights.
The state will introduce a new bill to ensure the overall safety of all women public representatives
in state. It also assured that training centres will be started for those women wanting to pursue a career in politics. While victims of sexual harassment will be compensated financially, action will be taken against those indulging in moral policing.
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