In a Country like ours, economical and social status of a person is always defined by his or her right to retain property. Land is considered as the paramount resource one can command. In fact, owning land commands respect from others. Conforming to this rationale, property rights awarded to persons reflect their position in society. Add to this the misogynistic thinking of most of our populace, women and property rights have been a controversial matter since the inception of our democracy.
The situation is the most acute in rural parts of our country, so it is hardly surprising, but greatly disheartening that the women of Nagaland have been denied the right to own land. Due to the primal lifestyle of the residents of the state, the local law dictates that land cannot be sold or granted by a tribe to another tribe, as this would result in the vanquishing of villages and ultimately result in the extinction of tribes. Since women are considered to be the members of the family they marry into, bequeathing land upon them would be considered transferring the land to another tribe. This petty reason has not only abjured the women of their basic rights, it has also resulted in widening the already gaping difference between the two genders.
However, some virtuous people of Nagaland have found ways to circumvent this unreasonable law to give to their daughters their rightful share of estate inheritance by gifting them land in their wills. The preparation of wills is a new concept in Nagaland, and it is being rightfully used to distribute assets equally among all offspring, irrespective of their gender. Although ancestral land is off limits, acquired land can be transferred to different owners.
Despite the progressive action being taken by citizens, the state, and even the Central Government has resorted to being idle bystanders. The only people who have not only the power, but also the duty to bring upon the necessary changes in the country are dormant. It begs the question as to what the Government is actually doing to improve the country.
Courtesy/By: Utkarsh Yadav
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16 Aug 2018
