Smriti Irani flaks NCP MP Fauzia Khan over remark ‘girls are married because they have nothing else to do’
Irani said, “Women in the country marry because they are unoccupied, I think this is an anomaly that needs to be corrected. And specifically, young girls, who choose marriage because they have nothing better to do. I hope that the Member would retract that position."
Total Views |
New Delhi, March 31: Union Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani, slаmmed NCP MP Fauzia Khan in Rajya Sabha for her regressive approach and lack of awareness on child marriages. Khan said in the parliament earlier that young underage girls choose to marry because they remain unoccupied after a certain age limit.
She added that the govt led by PM Modi is taking all the steps to ensure that the girls under the age of marriageable age are secure and are being provided education. “Also, given the familial pressure for the child marriage, the government has ensured that there is constructive dialogue through the district administration and the state administration for particular communities”, she stated.
Notably, the govt, in December 2021, approved proposal to raise legal age of marriage for women pan-India from 18 years to 21 years. The move seeks to bring gender equality to India.
“When we actually go into a village, we see that people refuse to keep their girls doing nothing till the age of 18 or 21 whatever. They say that the girls are not secure and so want to get married themselves. How do we ensure that the girls are kept occupied in some productive work whether it is skill development, education or something that occupies their minds until they reach marriageable age”, she asked, as she also raised questioned the Prohibition of Child Marriage, Bill tabled by the Ministry in December 2021.
“Child marriage cannot be justified because the child has nothing better to do”, said Smriti Irani. “Women in the country marry because they are unoccupied, I think this is an anomaly that needs to be corrected. And specifically, young girls, who choose marriage because they have nothing better to do. I hope that the Member would retract that position”, she added.
She added that the govt led by PM Modi is taking all the steps to ensure that the girls under the age of marriageable age are secure and are being provided education. “Also, given the familial pressure for the child marriage, the government has ensured that there is constructive dialogue through the district administration and the state administration for particular communities”, she stated.
Also Read | TMC MP Nusrat Jahan makes baseless argument, claims Indian soil unsuitable for bullet train; Railways Minister hits back
She stated that strict action against the family members and those attending the child marriages would be taken by state. “There are various child rights organizations like the NCPCR who are also spreading awareness among the particular communities during particular seasons when more of such crimes are likely to occur. It is the family members of the children and the relatives attending the wedding who will be charged”, she added.
Notably, the govt, in December 2021, approved proposal to raise legal age of marriage for women pan-India from 18 years to 21 years. The move seeks to bring gender equality to India.
