Kerala Women's Commission advocates legal documentation for bridal jewellery and gifts
Kochi: Chairperson of the Kerala Women's Commission, P. Sathidevi, has emphasised the need for legal documentation of jewellery and money given to women at the time of marriage. She highlighted that in Ernakulam district, family disputes and violence against young women by their husbands' relatives are on the rise. Sathidevi made these remarks during the second day of the Commission Adalat held at the Ernakulam Government Guest House.
"Often, jewellery and money given to brides are taken away by their husbands and in-laws. Many young women approach the commission after their marriages break down, seeking to retrieve these valuables. However, the absence of legal records makes it difficult to reclaim the items," Sathidevi stated. She urged families to ensure that all jewellery given during marriage is documented.
The Women's Commission's Ernakulam Regional Office provides counselling services to address marital issues along with other facilities. In addition to family disputes, the commission is also addressing workplace exploitation, particularly in the IT sector. Sathidevi noted that many women are unfairly dismissed from their jobs, but the commission's intervention has helped secure compensation and benefits for the affected individuals.
Incidents of harassment and abuse in neighbourhood disputes are also increasing, according to Sathidevi. She stressed the importance of ward-level surveillance committees in mitigating these issues, noting that these committees have been given statutory powers to act effectively.
Online harassment of women is another growing concern. Sathidevi encouraged women to utilise the cyber police system to report such incidents, highlighting the importance of taking action against digital abuse.
The Women's Commission is set to launch several initiatives in August. These include district seminars on the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, commonly known as the POSH Act. Additionally, premarital counselling sessions will be provided, and ‘Kalalaya Jyothi’ will be organised in colleges. The commission also plans to hold face-to-face interactions with students.
During the district-level Adalat, Sathidevi, along with commission members Adv. Elizabeth Mammen Mathai and Adv. Indira Raveendran addressed and settled various complaints. Director Shaji Sugunan, along with advocates and counsellors, also played a significant role in the proceedings.
On the second day of the adalath, 38 complaints were resolved. Four complaints were forwarded to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), with two referred for reporting and two for counselling. In total, 101 complaints were considered on the second day of the district-level Adalat.