How will justice be done to daughters: Sushmita Dev is the only woman MP in the 31-member committee to examine the bill fixing the age of marriage

Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev is the only woman member of the parliamentary panel that will examine the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill. In this, there is a provision to increase the age of marriage of women from 18 to 21 years.

The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister Smriti Irani during the winter session of Parliament. It was then sent to a 31-member committee for investigation. According to the list of members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by senior BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, available on the Rajya Sabha website, Sushmita Dev is the only woman among 31 members.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Sushmita Dev said, “I wish there were more women MPs in the committee, but still we will ensure that all interest groups are heard.”

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule said the chairperson of the panel has the power to invite other women MPs for a more inclusive and comprehensive discussion.

Controversy continues over proposed bill

However, the proposed bill remains controversial. Many MPs have termed this bill as a violation of personal laws. This bill will amend seven personal laws. This includes the Indian Christian Marriage Act; Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act; Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act; Special Marriage Act; Hindu Marriage Act; and the Foreign Marriage Act.

Union Minister Smriti Irani had said, “Equality of women in our country has to be given the age of marriage. [के संदर्भ में] need to see. Keeping in view the marriage laws of different religions, I am introducing the amendment bill. This amendment allows both men and women to marry at the age of 21. Research has found that 21 lakh child marriages were stopped and many underage girls were found to be pregnant.