Kids of single moms may not need father’s name on forms ens

Children of single mothers will not be required to mention the name of the father in government forms in Maharashtra,once the women’s policy is approved by the state. Ujjwal Uke,principal secretary of Women and Child Development Department said the draft policy says that in government forms,children of single mothers will have the option of mentioning the name of father or mother or both.

“There was a whole debate on children of single women,and earlier also people used to say that one should allow the mother’s name to be put,that is,it could be the father or the mother. But somehow I have realised that in the government,the compliance they did was that they used to write both father’s name and mother’s name. That was not solving the problem. So I have put in a specific point in the women’s policy,saying that in all government forms,you have either father’s name or mother’s name or both. Any of the three alternatives will be acceptable,” said Uke,during an Idea Exchange with The Indian Express. “So,a single women having a child,need not mention the father’s name. This is specially true for commercial sex workers also. Also,today we are in the 21st century and there are many single women who may not like to reveal the name of the child’s father,” he added.

In May,the state had issued a government resolution,which said schools should not make it compulsory for children of commercial sex workers and transgenders to furnish details such as father’s name and proof of residence.

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The women’s policy also focuses on transgenders and recommends setting up a board for them. A salient feature in the child’s policy is abolishing the practice of registering ‘nameless’ children as ‘anamik’ and ‘NNK’ in short.

The draft policies on women and children will have to be placed before the Cabinet. “Both will be a reality,I hope,before the end of December. Right now,it’s at the stage where I have to seek the opinion of other departments. Like we have certain things in the women’s policy which are affecting other departments,such as gender budgeting,issues pertaining to industries,some we have asked for certain facilities to be given to women entrepreneurs. Once the departments give a concurrence,I go to the Cabinet,after which it is a question of formally declaring that this is a state policy. Once it’s a policy,it is my responsibility to see that it is fully followed,” he said.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com