PANAJI
A fortnight ago, a Goan couple’s marriage grabbed the national attention and the reason was unusual. Usha Naik, a widow, defied societal norms by performing the wedding rituals of her daughter, Dr Gautami. The bride and the groom’s families dared to challenge the age-old stereotypes surrounding widowhood. It highlighted a progressive shift, debunking the belief that widows are considered inauspicious for religious or ritual ceremonies.
This wedding ceremony echoed back to March 2023 when the government committed to bring a law to end widow discrimination, prevailing in some remote parts of Goa.
During the Budget session 2023-24, Women and Child Development Minister Vishwajit Rane assured to eradicate widow discrimination.
“I make a commitment that in the next Assembly session, maybe in July, we can bring in legislation within the purview of the law to prevent any kind of widow discrimination,” he assured the House in response to Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao’s Private Member’s Bill seeking preventing “unjust customs of widow discrimination, widow abuse, and widow isolation”.
However, despite receiving unanimous support from all party MLAs, including those from the ruling bench, the proposed law has failed to gain traction at least as on date.
It’s been 11 months and there’s no progress. Sources in the Department of Women and Child have confirmed that this proposal was barely discussed even as some attempts are made to draft the proposal.
During the discussion, BJP MLA Deviya Rane, also the wife of Minister Vishwajit Rane claimed the widows were going through terrible experiences of isolation and discrimination. “If these customs are not for men, then they shouldn’t be for women,” she was quoted as saying.
While MLA Delilah Lobo too extended her support, Independent MLA Chandrakant Shetye sought to prevent abusive rituals for widows spanning across religions by bringing in a stringent law.
Around 14 Village Panchayats have already adopted resolutions against discriminatory customs to treat widows on par with married women.
