AIDWA seeks hike in relief

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 8. The monthly ceiling of Rs.500 provided as 'maintenance' for wives, children and parents, of persons who neglect them, under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure should be revised upwards, the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), has said.

In a memorandum submitted to the State Home Secretary, Ms.Shantha Sheila Nair, the AIDWA's State Unit urged the State Government to take immediate steps to get the Presidential assent for the Bill passed by the State legislature in this regard, and quickly bring to force the revised maintenance amount for 'neglected' women and children.

Referring to the amendment effected in 1990 to the 'Hindu Succession Act' entitling women to equal property rights, the AIDWA urged that the clause making it inapplicable to cases where there was only one house for the family, should be deleted.

Further, an important amendment that women after marriage will be entitled to half their respective husband's property should also be brought about, the AIDWA said in its memorandum.

Under the 1954 Special Marriages Act, the clause that spouses seeking divorce could petition only after one year after the wedding, should also be scrapped, the AIDWA emphasised. Child adoption rights should be widened to confer this benefit to people across religions, the AIDWA demanded in its memorandum, besides placing other demands for the Government's consideration.

The AIDWA delegation, headed by its State President, Ms.Paapa Umanath and including Ms.Sudha Sundararaman and Ms.Sudha Ramalingam, also sought the immediate arrest of the police personnel who had allegedly raped two women at Anjetti in Denkhanikottai taluk of Dharmapuri district.

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Section  : Southern States
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