MARGAO
Congress leader Beena Naik has condemned the State government's "failure" to address issues concerning the rights of widows, following the issuance of an advisory by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
In her statement, Naik accused the BJP of neglecting a crucial social issue despite opportunities to act. She highlighted a Private Member Resolution tabled by the Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on March 31, 2023, aimed at combating "Widow discrimination, widow isolation, and widow abuse". Naik claimed that swift action on this resolution could have positioned Goa as a pioneer in enacting such legislation, setting a precedent for other states.
Naik, who is the president of Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress, emphasized that it's not too late for the government to take action, urging Women and Child Development Minister Vishwajit Rane to introduce a bill during the upcoming Seventh Session of the Eighth Goa Legislative Assembly, scheduled for July. She asserted that such legislation would provide justice to widows and address longstanding concerns.
Furthermore, Naik criticized the BJP government for disregarding previous calls from Congress Legislature Party Leader Yuri Alemao to safeguard widows' rights. Alemao had urged action earlier this year, following the recognition of widow Usha Naik for conducting her daughter Dr Gautami's wedding rituals.
Despite these appeals, Naik lamented, the BJP government has failed to take concrete steps to protect the rights of widows, prompting renewed calls for legislative action to rectify this oversight.
