Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) said the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would ensure “a new lease of independence” and social security for women from the minority community.
The newly opened Women’s Empowerment Centre, the shelter at Thenparakudy in Edamalakkudy.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, a modern rest facility for Muthuvan tribal women during menstruation has been constructed in Edamalakkudy, the State’s first tribal panchayat near Munnar. Named the ‘Women’s Empowerment Centre,’ the shelter was built in Thenparakudy — a remote tribal settlement — by Experion Technologies, a product engineering company, through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm, the Experion Foundation, under Project EDEM.According to officials, the shelter provides a safer, cleaner, and more dignified space for women during menstruation — a time when members of the Muthuvan tribe traditionally stay away from their homes. Under community customs, women and girls are relocated to secluded huts known as Valaimapura during their periods. However, most settlements lack hygienic and secure structures, forcing women into substandard shelters for four days every month, and leading some girls and women to use contraceptive tablets to avoid periods altogether.Relief for womenOfficials said the new facility will provide immense relief to women. It is equipped with hygienic toilets, a kitchen, resting areas, sewing machines, a television with DTH connectivity, and storage space for handicrafts. “It has been envisioned as a place where women can rest in comfort, connect, engage in productive activities, and experience a greater sense of dignity, independence, and belonging,” an official said.Suresh Panicker, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Experion Technologies, noted that the project was born out of a desire to understand the community’s unique challenges. “Project EDEM holds a very special place in our journey of compassionate service because it began with listening,” Mr Panicker said. “In 2023, during a back-to-school support initiative across tribal schools in Idukki, Edamalakkudy was the one place we could not directly reach because of poor road connectivity, forest-route restrictions, and complex permissions. That moment stayed with us and led us to listen more closely to the lived realities of the community,” he said.He added that conversations with teachers and residents highlighted the difficult conditions women faced. “We realised that traditions rooted in generations cannot be approached with judgment or haste. But dignity can be introduced within tradition. That thought became the heart of Project EDEM,” said Mr Panicker.The centre was inaugurated two days ago. “The opening of the first Women’s Empowerment Centre at Thenparakudy marks the beginning of a larger mission to create safer, more dignified, and more empowering spaces for women in the State’s first tribal panchayat,” an official stated.The shelter was constructed through the Munnar Forest Development Agency under the Kerala Forest department, in association with the Edamalakkudy Vana Samrakshana Samithi. Published - May 29, 2026 07:58 pm IST
The NCW submitted the ‘Rights of Muslim Women in India’ report following a national-level consultation last year aimed at strengthening legal and social protections.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has submitted a report on the rights of Muslim women in India to key central Ministries. The report recommends a comprehensive legislation to codify Muslim personal law related to marriage, divorce, maintenance, custody, and inheritance, strengthening provisions for maintenance during and after marriage, and mandatory registration of marriages.The NCW submitted the ‘Rights of Muslim Women in India’ report following a national-level consultation last year aimed at strengthening legal and social protections.Apart from the suggestions mentioned above, the report also recommended the prohibition of child marriage and regulation of divorce practices, ensuring fairness, due process, and equal access to remedies for women, ensuring financial security, and safeguarding women’s rights over mehr and matrimonial assets, adoption of child-centric custody frameworks, and strengthening women’s rights in property and inheritance through simplified enforcement mechanisms.Also Read | SC seeks govt. response on plea challenging Shariat inheritance as discriminatory to womenIt also sought the establishment of gender-sensitive dispute resolution mechanisms with adequate representation for women and accountability to civil courts, expansion of legal aid systems, helplines, and targeted awareness campaigns to enhance legal literacy among Muslim women, and immediate intervention to address harmful practices such as the Paaro (bride buying) system, alongside rehabilitation measures, identity recognition, and livelihood support for affected women.The report, prepared after extensive deliberations, has been shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, and the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the NCW said in an official statement on Wednesday (May 27).According to the Commission, the findings are based on inputs gathered during a round-table consultation held in New Delhi on August 1, 2025. The consultation brought together government officials, legal experts, academicians, women’s rights organisations, religious scholars, and members of civil society from across the country.Also Read | Muslim Personal Law Board condemns Supreme Court petition challenging Islamic inheritance lawThe discussions focused on reviewing existing legal provisions, identifying implementation gaps, and proposing reforms to ensure greater protection and empowerment of Muslim women.The commission said that while various constitutional safeguards and recent legal reforms exist, persistent challenges remain in effectively ensuring rights and access to justice.It added that the report was intended to support policy formulation and improve the implementation of laws and schemes relating to women’s welfare and empowerment. Published - May 27, 2026 09:02 pm IST
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the 16th State Legislative Assembly, in Guwahati on May 27, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Assam Assembly on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill even as the Opposition demanded that it be sent to a select committee.With the passage of the proposed legislation, Assam became the third State, after Uttarakhand and Gujarat, to pass a Uniform Civil Code Bill. It seeks to put in place a common legal framework to govern marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships irrespective of religion.Goa also has one common civil law, which continued from its erstwhile Portuguese colonial period.After a day-long discussion on the 'The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill', Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass asked Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to move it for passage.Mr. Dass rejected the Opposition's demand that the Bill be sent to a select committee for wider consultation, prompting them to move to the Well of the House and shout till the Bill was passed.Explained | The Uniform Civil Code The Speaker put the Bill for voice voting, amid continuous slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Jai Shree Ram' by the ruling Bench."I declare that the Bill is passed," he said after the ruling members voted in favour of it.As soon as the Bill was passed, it was welcomed by a thunderous applause.The Assam government had on Monday (May 25, 2026) tabled a Bill on the Uniform Civil Code, seeking to ban polygamy and make registration of live-in relationships compulsory.The Bill, however, said that it will not be applicable to any person belonging to the Scheduled Tribes and residing in Assam.It proposed several punitive measures, including seven years imprisonment for bigamy or polygamy, and three months in jail for not registering a live-in relationship. Published - May 27, 2026 03:56 pm IST
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) said the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would ensure “a new lease of independence” and social security for women from the minority community.Speaking during a discussion on the UCC Bill introduced in the 126-member House on Monday, he said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government fulfilled its poll promise by tabling the Bill.“The UCC Bill will provide social security to men and women from minority communities. It will also ensure safety and security for women of the minority community who have remained oppressed for decades,” the Chief Minister said, asserting that the proposed law empowers minority women to lead a more independent life.He said the opposition parties had criticised him before the elections for saying the government would pursue the UCC if it could not be stopped politically. “I told them that if they fail to stop us, we will bring the UCC in the very first Assembly session. We acted on our commitment to the people of Assam,” he said.“I feel proud that Assam will be the third State to bring the UCC after Uttarakhand and Gujarat,” he added.Echoing All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi, some Congress MLAs said the UCC could not be described as “uniform” as it has separate provisions for tribal and non-tribal communities. The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill exempts all Scheduled Tribes and Adivasi communities from its purview.“If this Bill is good, it should apply to everyone. If it is bad, it should not be implemented at all,” Congress MLA Zubair Anam told journalists.“The Bill currently says that if any non-tribal person enters into a live-in relationship, it will have to be registered. What will happen if a non-tribal partner lives with a tribal girl?” he asked, insisting that the word “uniform” should apply to all communities.“Why should it not apply to tribal communities? If it is for the welfare of the people, how will welfare be ensured by excluding one community?” he asked.‘Gratitude to Muslims’Earlier, the Chief Minister thanked some Muslim leaders and organisations for deciding not to sacrifice or slaughter cows during Bakrid, or Eid-ul-Zuha, on May 28.“No religious scripture says cows must necessarily be sacrificed. There are alternatives. I express my gratitude to some leaders and Muslim organisations for respecting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community by deciding not to sacrifice cows on Eid. This decision will further strengthen peace and harmony in Assam,” he said.The Chief Minister also appealed to others who had not yet made up their minds to “draw inspiration” from those who have refrained from using cows for sacrifice during the festival.
.Assam’s UCC Bill explained: What changes under the new law?
Assam has introduced a new Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill that proposes a ban on polygamy, compulsory marriage and divorce registration, and legal regulation of live-in relationships. But what is the Uniform Civil Code, and why has it remained one of India’s most debated issues? This explainer breaks down the Assam UCC Bill, the history behind UCC, Article 44 of the Constitution, and the arguments surrounding equality, personal laws and religious freedom.
| Video Credit:
The Hindu
Published - May 27, 2026 11:27 am IST
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