Rajasthan official: Make Raksha Bandhan memorable, get sisters to relinquish land rights

The letter issued on August 21 from the workplace of Digod Tehsildar Dilip Singh Prajapati in Kota district, and signed by him, has drawn sharp criticism from girls’s rights teams which have termed its contents patriarchal and sexist.

The letter says ‘press word’ on prime and the topic line reads ‘Raksha Bandhan ko yaadgaar banaiye, bahino se swechhik hak tyag karvaiye (Make Raksha Bandhan memorable, get sisters to voluntarily relinquish their rights)’.

“When a khatedar passes away, the names of his son, daughter and spouse are entered in his place as his pure heirs. In a number of religions and households, it has been the custom for generations that sisters and daughters don’t take their share from parental agricultural land and immovable belongings and as a substitute take their share from the property of in-laws,” the enchantment says.

The letter provides that typically girls voluntarily wish to relinquish this proper however the course of isn’t accomplished because of the carelessness of farmers. It goes on to say that at instances when land is acquired by the federal government, the cheque for compensation typically will get issued within the title of sisters or daughters.

“Circumstances give beginning to sins and in such conditions some sisters don’t return the quantity of the cheque to their brothers. And ultimately, the siblings die after not being on speaking phrases for his or her total life,” it says.

Prajapati additionally mentions that in case of loss of life of the girl, the names of her husband or kids are added as house owners, and although the individual connecting the 2 households have died, the son-in-law finally ends up promoting the land at throwaway costs.

“That is simply an instance. Life-long court docket battles, even murders happen. Whereas there was a time when the sister was able to voluntarily relinquish her rights however her title was not eliminated. Make Raksha Bandhan memorable, get sisters to voluntarily relinquish their rights,” says the letter.

Tehsildar Prajapati, when contacted, mentioned his letter had no sexist undertone. “There aren’t any patriarchal undertones within the letter. I’ve talked about the phrases “voluntarily relinquishing” a number of instances. Women and men are equal within the eyes of the regulation and the names of ladies are included in income information. However girls who wish to voluntarily relinquish their rights can accomplish that. I’ve seen generations get wasted in court docket battles. That’s the reason I wrote the letter. Carelessness or delay can lead to disputes. That is simply an enchantment and never an order. I discussed Raksha Bandhan as a result of all sisters come to their parental houses presently,” Prajapati informed The Indian Specific.

Ladies’s rights activists have, in the meantime, lashed out on the enchantment. “The letter reeks of patriarchy. The Structure has given equal rights to women and men. Why is there no discuss males giving up their rights?” requested Chandrakala Sharma, state coordinator of Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan (ENSS) that works for the rights of single girls together with those that are widowed or divorced.

She added that a number of single girls engaged in farming rely upon parental land for sustenance. “It’s as much as the ladies whether or not they wish to retain the correct on their parental land. Whereas working with single girls, we have now seen many who don’t wish to relinquish their rights on parental land as a result of it serves as a way of sustenance and they are often financially impartial. Connecting the enchantment to Raksha Bandhan exhibits an effort to strain girls emotionally,” mentioned Sharma.

“Ladies who wish to voluntarily relinquish their share can accomplish that any day, regardless of whether or not it’s Raksha Bandhan or not. However beneath no circumstance ought to girls ever be compelled or pressured to take action,” mentioned Kota district collector Ujjawal Rathore.