Many more legislations for protection and welfare of women, widows and children born out of wedlock are necessary to ensure empowerment of the fairer sex, Kerala social welfare minister M K Muneer said today.
"There is need of a legislation for protection of privacy and dignity of women. They should not be exposed for advertorial advantages. Rights of widows have to be protected and rights of illegitimate children assured," he said, addressing the first International conference of Kudumbashree, state Poverty Eradication mission, on its 17th anniversary.
An amendment to the Dowry Prohibition Act is needed, taking into account Kerala state specifics, the minister said.
Inclusion of right of children born out of inter-caste, inter-religious marriages in Special Marriage act and marital property rights also requires legislation, he said.
"Once these legislations and a plan of action for implementation are put in place, Kudumbashree could become the most important pivotal movement in Kerala with all the legal backup for women empowerment and can be a role model for the rest of the world for women's resurgence," Muneer said.
On the legislation for privacy and dignity of women, he said Kudumbashree would prepare all draft documents in three months after which government will take a policy decision.
With regard to lease of farmlands, he said people who give land on lease and cultivators are apprehensive. There is need for a win-win situation for both. "A bill is in the advanced stage and we are planning to bring it by February next," he said.
Presently, there are 42 lakh women in the 'Kudumbashree' fold who have shown that poverty can be reduced through numerous Self Help Groups, micro enterprises, collective farming, organic farming, short stay homes.
Over 50 per cent of the elected women representatives in the three-tier local governments in Kerala are members of the Kudambashree network.
