Everyone’s eye is on the decision to raise the legal age of marriage for women. Ironically, the 31-membered parliamentary standing committee constituted to examine the bill introduced to raise the legal age of marriage for women in India, has only one woman MP.
Sushmita Dev is a Rajya Sabha member and Trinamool Congress MP. She is the only woman in the 31-membered panel.
This 31 membered Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports is constituted to examine The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Bill has proposed to raise the legal age of marriage for women in India from 18 to 21.
Wish More Women Should Be Part Of Panel: Sushmita Dev
“I wish there were more women MPs in the committee but having said that we will make sure all interest groups are heard,” said Sushmita Dev.
She added, “The Standing Committee will be looking at the age barrier for women for marriage. I am the only female member in the Standing Committee which would be looking into it, but I will try my best to ensure that the Chairman of the Committee listens to every voice across the board.”
Not Fair: Jaya Jaitly, Head Of Task Force Who Recommended To Increase The Marriage Age
“I would request all political parties especially those who have been supportive of women reservation to replace their MPs on the panel with female MPs if the system permits or suggest their MPs to consult female MPs while deliberating on this important legislation,” said Jaya Jaitly.
She added that it wouldn’t be fair if 50 percent of the committee members examining this proposed legislation are not women.
Jaya Jaitly headed the task force constituted to examine matters pertaining to the age of motherhood, imperatives of lowering MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate), improvement of nutritional levels and related issues. The Committee had given recommendations to Niti Aayog.
