Gujarat women may land a fair deal

Land rights to women is all set to change the equation in the Gujarati society.

The state government's recently announced Nari Gaurav Niti-2006 has suggested that woman be totally exempt from paying transfer fees and stamp duties if the property or land is bought in her name solely.

Moreover, the policy also suggests the formulation of "women's right to matrimonial home and property Act" and a special provision in the existing laws to ensure that any property bought after marriage must be bought in the joint names of a husband and wife.

The economic environment section of the policy suggests that the department concerned including the nodal agency revenue department should make "active efforts to increase women's control and ownership of land, property and other property resources."

It further suggests to "promote registration of land and property both in sole name of woman as well as under joint ownership of wife and husband" and to "totally exempt women from transfer fees and stamp duty if land or property is in the name of women singly."

The action plan also suggests an amendment to Sections 145 and 146 of CrPC to promote buying of property in the joint names of husband and wife.

All these have to be accomplished within a period of six months starting from the date of adoptation of the policy.

Kaushik Patel, state revenue minister, said, "The new amendment recommended in the Nari Gaurav Niti-2006 will bring about a huge change in the property buying pattern of people. We will see a lot of property being bought solely in the name of women after the amendment. Exemption from stamp duties and transfer fees is not a small incentive."

Giving an example, Patel said last year the state government had exempted women from registration fees of 1.5 per cent.

"Around 1.76 lakh women benefitted from this provision last year itself. Around 30 per cent of the total documentation of land and property last year was done on women's names solely. Registration fee amounting to a total of Rs 25-30 crore was waived. So one can imagine what impact the new amendment would have," he added.

Vilasini Ramchandran, principal secretary, revenue department, said, "The land and property buying pattern will certainly see a change as people will buy more property on women's names to get the benefit." However, she did not have any idea on the impact the recommendation would have on the state exchequer.

Moreover, to support the self-help groups being run by women and women's co-operatives, the state government has asked the women and child development department to set up a special fund.

The government has also asked the departments concerned to provide incentives to industry and employers for providing facilities to women in work place.

Special steps are to be taken to encourage co-operative and nationalised banks to make provisions for credit to women SHGs for farm, farm services, processing, marketing of dairy, poultry and agricultural products.