The Hindu Business Line : Sikkim passes two Bills on women empowerment

Gangtok, June 11 Two Bills passed by the Sikkim Assembly on Wednesday will have far-reaching consequences as far as women empowerment in the State is concerned.

The two Bills are the Sikkim Municipalities Second Amendment Bill providing for an increased 40 per cent reservation to women in municipal bodies in the State and the Sikkim Succession Bill providing succession rights to women.

The Municipalities Bill was received with much cheer by the women members of the Legislative Assembly and members of the Cheli Morcha, the women’s wing of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front party.

Currently, urban local bodies in the State have only one-third reservation for women.

“It is another feather in the cap for the SDF party led by the Chief Minister, Mr Pawan Chamling,” former MLA, Mr Manita Pradhan, said.

The Sikkim Succession Bill, tabled by the Social Justice Minister, Mr Hissey Lachungpa yesterday, provides legislation for equal property rights to daughters, wives and even divorced and abandoned wives.

After the Act is notified, property (movable and immovable) of any male Sikkimese who dies will go to the surviving members of his family, namely, wife, sons and daughters-by law, in equal proportion.

However, a Sikkimese woman who has married a non-Sikkimese or has acquired foreign citizenship will not be entitled to enjoy the benefits under this Act.

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