Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS) called upon Governor K T Parnaik to come up with an urgent legislation to ban polygamy and bigamy in the state.
In a letter, signed by APWWS president Kani Nada Malling, the society expressed grave concerns about the adverse effects of these practices, particularly on women and children.
The APWWS emphasized the need for immediate action, citing recent incidents of violence and abuse linked to polygamous relationships.
The society highlighted cases such as the tragic death of Techi Neme Tok and the murder of Techi Meena, both allegedly related to polygamy, as examples of the urgent need for legal intervention.
“In the case of Techi Neme Tok, the subsequent investigation has led to the arrest of one Tok Tama, while the alleged co-accused Techi Demin remains at large, evading law enforcement.
On the other hand, the Techi Meena murder case has languished before the District and Session Court in Yupia for an extended period, which underscores the need to address systemic issues such as polygamy prevalent in our tribal society. Such a dire situation necessitates immediate and decisive action to ensure that justice is swiftly and effectively served,” the society highlighted.
In the letter, the APWWS also underscored the societal pressure and challenges faced by women and children in polygamous households, urging the state government to enact laws to protect their rights and dignity.
The society expressed disappointment over the lack of concrete action by the state government despite previous appeals.
“Despite our unwavering efforts, we are confronted with numerous challenges in advocating for women’s rights. Presently, we are witnessing a disturbing surge in cases of domestic violence and homicide directly linked to the abhorrent practice of polygamy and bigamy, wherein men are socially sanctioned to marry multiple wives. Also, despite persistent appeals to the state government to outlaw such practices through legislation, a concrete action is yet to be taken,” the society said.
The APWWS has further called on the governor to intervene and direct the state government to pass legislation prohibiting polygamy and bigamy, in order to “prevent further harm to women and children in Arunachal”.
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