APSCW Bats For Women’s Property And Land Rights

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) Chairperson Radhelu Chai Techi has stressed on the need for granting property and land rights to women in the State.

Speaking at a legal awareness camp here on Friday, Techi while speaking on the State’s gender and patriarchal society said that women in the state have no property and land rights whereas women under Hindu law can enjoy such rights. “It is time to consider granting property and land rights to Arunachal women,” she said and advocated implementation of 33 per cent job reservation for women in the state as a big step forward for gender parity.

Pointing out that highest cases of domestic violence followed by polygamy, family maintenance and rape were received by the Commission, she said that gaon burhas (GBs) should not exceed their powers while deciding any case as was seen in a particular case received by APSCW wherein

ex-parte decision was passed by the GBs.

“The APSCW has spoken to chief secretary to take action against such erring GBs as most women in village level do not get justice. Any customary practice which is inconsistent with the constitutional rights under article 14, 15 and 21 cannot be upheld by law,” Techi added.

Arunachal Pradesh Legal Services Authority member-secretary Budi Habung said that customary practices and customary laws in most cases were gender biased.

“Women are denied ownership and inheritance, he said, adding women control production and family, but the men controls the resource and ownership of the property with selling power,” he said.

“Nagaland and Mizoram have almost the same practices but recently Mizoram had passed a new legislation under which the woman can inherit some specified property,” Habung added.

Also Read: Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) For Compulsory Marriage Registration