- Suggestions given to make live-in registration mandatory
- Demand for equal law and equality in ancestral property
Officials from various women’s self-help groups from Dharsiwa in Raipur district and Gariaband district presented their views before the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Committee, calling for comprehensive changes to the system. Members of the Uniform Civil Code Committee, retired IAS officer Mr. M.K. Raut and senior advocate Mr. Mohan Pawar, who met in Raipur, listened seriously to the women’s practical suggestions and assured them of incorporating them into the report.
During the discussion, women self-help group leaders such as Mrs. Sita Sahu, Mrs. Buddhi Sahu, Mrs. Temeshwari Sahu, Mrs. Rekha Sahu, and Mrs. Rajeshwari Bai emphasized that registration of live-in relationships should be mandatory, effectively curbing the exploitation of women and ensuring that children born from them have full rights to parenting and inheritance. Continuing this ideological line, Mrs. Laxmi Sahu, Mrs. Surekha Ratre, Mrs. Dileshwari Mirza, Mrs. Kumudini Chandravanshi, and Mrs. Mamta Sahu emphasized the paramount right to freedom, equality, and justice, calling for changes in religion-based laws. They also emphasized giving women equal rights to ancestral and personal property and simplifying the divorce process through mutual consent.
To address the discrepancies prevalent in society, Mrs. Mamta Yadav, Mrs. Damin Vishwakarma, Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Vaishnav, Mrs. Jyoti Joshi, and Mrs. Purnima Bai strongly advocated for uniform dowry laws. Since Chhattisgarh is a tribal-dominated state, it was agreed to discuss the matter with full respect for the traditions, customs, and culture of local communities. Similarly, for women in rural areas, Mrs. Madhuri Nishad, Mrs. Mini Markande, Mrs. Triveni Nishad, Mrs. Yamini Nirmalkar, and Mrs. Renuka Nishad said that the benefits of the law should reach the last mile of society.
Finally, Mrs. Sandhya Verma, Mrs. Chandrakali, Mrs. Draupadi Bai, and Mrs. Bhuneshwari Sahu unanimously stated that while moving towards “one nation, one law,” everyone should have the freedom to follow their own traditions, and for this, women’s awareness is paramount. The committee members emphasized that all practical suggestions from this interactive initiative and clear ideological participation of women will be highlighted in the report.