'Keep gold items to 3 at weddings,' Dehradun panchayat tells women
Dehradun(PTI): A panchayat in the Jaunsar Scheduled Tribe area has barred women from wearing more than three pieces of jewellery lest the display incite sentiments of jealousy and domestic discord.
The order was announced by the joint Panchayat of Kandhar and Indrani villages, located between the Yamuna and Tons rivers in Dehradun district.
According to the stricture, women will now only be allowed to wear a nose ring, earrings, and a mangalsutra at weddings. Those who disobey will be fined Rs 50,000.
Arjun Singh, the syana (most prominent person) of Kandhar village, told PTI Videos, "Due to the high price of gold, many women come under peer pressure to buy gold. This leads to familial conflicts and financial stress. We aim to reduce this inequality."
Women welcomed the panchayat's decision, but not without reservations.
Amala Chauhan, a resident of Jaunsar, said, "If equality is to be achieved, why must only women's jewellery be banned? Men's consumption of branded liquor should also be stopped. Gold is an investment, useful in difficult times. What is the use of alcohol and other wasteful expenditure?"
Nisha Rawat, though she expressed concerns over expensive gifts exchanged at weddings, singled out high-end alcohol and meat as symbols of show-off.
"Earlier, home-made liquor was served at weddings, but now the display of branded liquor and expensive gifts has increased. If we are talking about reducing expenses, then alcohol and meat should also be banned," she said.
Many men agreed with the women and said their demands were justified.
"The ban on jewellery is welcome, but the women's demand to reduce alcohol and other expenses is also valid. The panchayat should consider this as well," said Bhim Singh Chauhan.
Arjun Singh said the panchayat would consider the women's criticisms soon.
"The women's demands are justified. A ban on alcohol and other expenses will also be considered. This will be implemented in a phased manner," he said.
In Jaunsar, a Scheduled Tribe area, the panchayat's decision is considered final, and local people follow it with utmost seriousness.
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BJP using women's quota bill as front to pass Delimitation Bill that will break India: Mamata
Cooch Behar (WB) (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday alleged the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was using the proposed amendment to the women's quota law in Parliament as a front for the Delimitation Bill that would "break the country into pieces".
The TMC will fight this Central government's move at every step, she asserted at her party's poll rally here.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to tweak the women's quota law, along with the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, to implement the proposed amended women's quota law, in the Union territories of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir, were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
According to the Constitution amendment bill, Lok Sabha seats will be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Seats will also be increased in state and Union territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
Opposing the Centre's move, Banerjee alleged that "the BJP brought the Delimitation Bill while keeping the women's reservation bill at the front".
"The BJP is trying to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha to nearly 850 through the Delimitation Bill. It will break the country into pieces," the TMC supremo said.
She also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not speaking the truth about the development of north Bengal at a BJP rally last week.
"The prime minister said nothing was done for the development of north Bengal. But we spent Rs 1.72 lakh crore on the development of the region," Banerjee said and asked Modi to cross-check data before making such remarks.
