Knowing your rights is the first step to equality — Fortune Mistress
Advocate Meenu Padha, also a womens’ and child rights activist, talks about the basic rights that every woman should know. She says that there would be more gender equality and better protection for women if they are aware about their rights.
A lawyer and An activist
Hi, I am advocate Meenu Padha.
I am the President of (Jammu and Kashmir) National Child and Women Development Council, India. Besides that, I am an ambassador of an International Child Abuse Prevention Program and a Global Goodwill Ambassador (India). In addition to this, I am also an Honorary Member of National Human Rights and Humanitarian Federation (NHRF) India.
I along with my brother Nikhil Padha(also a lawyer) are majorly involved in the promotion of the fundamental “Right To Education”. In this regard, we have founded a school for the underprivileged slum children named ‘Masti Ki Pathshala’ in the city of Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir).
The story of my life is entirely inclined to the deliverance of rights of people. I am devoted to educating and fighting for people’s rights especially woman and child rights.
I believe that women are gravely deprived of their basic claim to live with dignity. The women in rural areas mostly find themselves helpless when the patriarchy unabashedly pounces on their fundamental rights. The reason I became a lawyer is because I saw gross violation of women and child rights almost everywhere.
In this article, I want to focus on basic rights that every woman in every household should know. I am sharing this with some exemplar cases:
Basic rights of every woman:
Harassment at workplace:
1.Sudha works at a company as a secretary to a manager. Her boss often cracks sexually awkward jokes with her and that makes her very uncomfortable. Once he offered her a ride home but she denied. He threatened her that if she did not submit to her demands, she would have to face difficulties with her job.
But did you know that no girl needs to put up with such kind of unwarrantable behaviour or harassment.
What does the law say?
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act ,2013
Any office, factory, shop or other workplaces that employ 10 or more men and women, must have a complaints committee: Section 4. According to Indian Penal Code,1860: On sexual harassment, a woman can also make a criminal complaint. For unwelcoming sexual comments, a request for sexual favors, showing pornography or sexual gestures: Section 354A, 509.
Right against Domestic Violence
2. Neha’s husband Raj extremely shorttempered. Everyday when he comes back home he gets violent, beats her up, takes her to the bedroom and forces himself on her.
Neha is a victim of abuse, however right now she does not want to end her marriage. There is a way out. As per the law regarding Domestic Violence, Neha has a right to live in her matrimonial home. And she has a right to the household income. She has a right to stop Raj from beating her.
What is the law?
Protection against Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
Domestic Violence can be physical or sexual, emotional or mental, even economic. It includes marital rape and harassment for dowry. If a woman is being deprived of necessities for herself or her children, this may qualify as economic abuse: Section 3.You also have Right to Protection (Section 18), Right to Finance (Section 20) and Right to Residence (Section 17).
Right against Dowry system
3.This is the story of Swati. Today Swati is getting married. Her mother and father were asked to give a huge amount as dowry. This is the first crime in this case. After her wedding, her mother- in-law and her husband continue to pester her for more dowry. One day, Swati finally files an FIR. The pressure of dowry disappeared.
What was the law?
According to Indian Penal Code, 1860 if your husband or in-laws are harassing you for dowry, you can make a criminal complaint against them: Section 498A. Dowry system in India: Read more
Right against Child’s Sex selection
4. Rani is pregnant and very happy that she is going to be a mother. While she is at the hospital to get a check-up done, her husband wants to know — will it be a boy or a girl? He is forcing her to find out. After they found out that they are about to have a daughter, her husband asked Rani to get an abortion right now. It’s a crime. She should not let that happen. Her husband can be put behind bars for this act.
What is the law here?
PreConception and Pre- Natal Diagnostics Techniques Act, 1994
According to this act if your husband or others pressure you to get tests to find out the baby’s sex, your husband, and other, could go to jail for 3 years. The law will presume you did it under pressure: Section 23
Property rights of daughter
5. Pallavi’s father recently passed away. Her two brothers, Rahul and Sachin, were discussing how to split the property between themselves. Rahul said, only sons have the right to inherit property. But that is wrong and illegal. Pallavi sought legal help. Pallavi has an equal right to her parent’s property just as much as her brothers.
Law- Hindu Women’s Right to Property Act, 2005
According to this act women and girls have the same right to their parents or family property as their brothers: Section 6
Read Meenu’s Blogs — Legal Talks
Originally published at https://fortunemistress.com on November 2, 2020.
