Research and statistics in developing countries has shown that few women own land. Few women have their names on land records. But something we observed today made me wonder what was going on.
RCPS Act 2013 to lay down an obligation upon every public authority to render public services within the prescribed time limit and provide for a grievance redressal mechanism to citizens for non-compliance and for the matters to connected therewith or incidental there to. This was prominently displayed in the office.
We were at the Mamlatdar, local village, office regarding some matter. This is the office that keeps the local land records. It is where sale deeds of land transfers are recorded and signed in the presence of the sun-registrar. The window in the photo says 7/12 registration, that is the land records.
RCPS Act 2013 lays down an obligation upon every public authority to render public services within the prescribed time limit and provide for a grievance redressal mechanism to citizens for non-compliance and for the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. These obligations were clearly displayed in the office.
Imagine my surprise when I met these hoards of women in the office. I was amazed. What were they doing there? They said they had come to sign the papers on their land! And I witnessed many women recorded, with photographs, on these sale deed. Amazingly some women were signing and other we’re putting their thumb impression against their name and photographs.
What was happening here in this village? All these women had rights to land? Owned land? I am at a loss for words.
I request my learned Feminist and gender studies friends to tell us what could this mean?
Unni-Verse 