Women’s self-help group representatives from Dharsiwa and Gariaband urge legal equality, simplified mutual-consent divorce and protection of children’s inheritance rights
Published on: October 12, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Raipur, India
Women representatives from various self-help groups in Dharsiwa, Raipur district, and Gariaband district presented their views and practical suggestions before the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Committee in Raipur, calling for changes to promote legal equality, protect women’s rights and address social disparities.
Committee member and retired IAS officer M.K. Raut, along with senior advocate Mohan Pawar, listened to the women’s suggestions and assured them that their practical recommendations would be given due consideration in the committee’s report.
Mandatory Registration of Live-in Relationships Proposed
During the discussion, self-help group representatives Sita Sahu, Buddhi Sahu, Temeshwari Sahu, Rekha Sahu and Rajeshwari Bai stressed the need to make registration of live-in relationships mandatory.
They said such a provision could help prevent the exploitation of women and ensure that children born from these relationships receive proper care and upbringing, along with their inheritance rights.
Equal Rights in Ancestral and Personal Property
Taking the discussion forward, Laxmi Sahu, Surekha Ratre, Dileshwari Mirza, Kumudini Chandravanshi and Mamta Sahu emphasised that the rights to freedom, equality and justice should remain paramount.
They called for changes to religion-based personal laws and demanded equal rights for women and men in ancestral and personal property. They also advocated simplifying divorce procedures where both spouses agree to end the marriage.
Uniform Rules on Gifts and Dowry
Addressing social disparities, Mamta Yadav, Damin Vishwakarma, Vijaylaxmi Vaishnav, Jyoti Joshi and Purnima Bai strongly advocated uniform rules concerning gifts and dowry.
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Given Chhattisgarh’s significant tribal population, the discussion also emphasised the importance of respecting the traditions, customs and cultural practices of local communities while considering any proposed legal framework.
Rural Women Stress Access to Justice
Representatives Madhuri Nishad, Mini Markande, Triveni Nishad, Yamini Nirmalkar and Renuka Nishad highlighted the need to ensure that the benefits of the law reach women in rural areas and people at the grassroots level.
They stressed that legal provisions should be accessible to women across communities and geographical areas.
Women’s Awareness Highlighted as Essential
At the conclusion of the discussion, Sandhya Verma, Chandrakali, Draupadi Bai and Bhuneshwari Sahu collectively emphasised the importance of moving towards the principle of “One Nation, One Law” while preserving people’s freedom to follow their traditions.
They also underlined the need to raise awareness among women so that they understand their rights and can participate meaningfully in discussions concerning legal and social reforms.
The committee members said the women’s participation and practical suggestions would receive due consideration in the report, reflecting the concerns raised during the consultation.
