Taking a cue from a progressive step by Herwad Gram Panchayat in Kolhapur district of western Maharashtra, the MVA Government has directed Zilla Parishads (ZPs) and Gram Panchayats (GPs) across the State to do away with the practice imposing various restrictions on the widowed woman.
Within days after Herwad Gram Panchayat passed a resolution to remove restrictions imposed on the women after the death of their husbands, the Maharashtra Government on Thursday issued a Government Resolution (GR) directed ZPs and gram panchayats to put an end to the regressive practices followed by the widows.
The regressive customs and restrictions imposed on widowed women involved widows removing their “mangalsutras’ and ‘toe rings’, wiping ‘sindoor’ from their foreheads and breaking the bangles. The widows used to be ostracized and stigmatized in the villages by preventing them from attending any family, social, religious functions, celebrating festivals openly, interacting with other males and so on.
A fortnight ago, the gram panchayats of Herwad in Shirol taluka of Kolhapur district adopted a resolution removing all restrictions on widowed women in their respective villages. Mangaon village in the neighbouring Hatkanangale taluka of the same district adopted a similar resolution.
Having taken cognisance of the developments in Hervad and Mangaon villages, the State Rural Development Ministry – through a GR -- directed the ZPs and Panchayat Samitis to follow the suit and adopt similar resolutions.
“In line with the progressive traditions of Maharashtra, we have taken a decision to do away with all restrictions on the widowed women,” Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Hasan Mushrif said.
MVA women leaders - Women and Child Development Minister Yashomati Thakur, School Education Minister Prof Varsha Gaikwad and Baramati MP Supriya Sule have backed the move.
“Big thank you…Hasan Mushrif sahab for taking such a progressive decision for widowed women on the grounds of the resolution passed by Herwad Gram Panchayat of Kolhapur,” Sule said. Earlier in the day, Mushrif called on NCP chief Sharad Pawar.