gender equality India Archives - Odisha Connect

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran Sparks Controversy Over North-South Comparison on Women’s Empowerment

OdishaConnect — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:33:01 +0000

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran has sparked a political controversy after comparing the status of women in Tamil Nadu to that in northern India, drawing criticism from the BJP and a strong defence from his own party. The remarks highlight ongoing debates over women’s empowerment and regional differences in India.

Remarks at Chennai College Event

Maran made the comments while speaking at Quaid-E-Millath Government College of Women in Chennai on Tuesday. The event was part of the Ulagam Ungal Kaiyil scheme, where Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin distributed laptops to students.

Praising Tamil Nadu’s focus on educating girls and empowering women, Maran encouraged students to take the laptops with confidence and pride, crediting the Dravidian model and the ideals of Periyar and Chief Minister MK Stalin, whom he called “the best Chief Minister in the country.”

He contrasted this with northern India, stating:
“What do they say in the North? Girls, do not go to work; be at home, be in the kitchen, birth children, that is what you are supposed to do.”

BJP Criticism

The remarks were immediately condemned by the BJP.

Narayanan Thiruppathy, Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson, accused Maran of abusing North Indian people and demanded an apology.
BJP chief Anila Singh described the comments as “unfortunate,” citing prominent women leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and President Droupadi Murmu, and stressed that India cannot be divided regionally.

DMK’s Defence

Senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan defended Maran, highlighting the party’s role in promoting women’s education, employment, and reservations in Tamil Nadu. He argued that the DMK has historically championed women’s empowerment, in contrast to northern states where similar initiatives have lagged.

The party maintained that Maran’s comments were intended to praise Tamil Nadu’s progressive model, not insult any region.

Wider Political Implications

The controversy underscores the North-South divide in Indian politics and debates over women’s empowerment. Critics argue that Maran’s statements could fuel regional sensitivities, while supporters claim it highlights the success of Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian model in promoting gender equality.

As the debate continues, the remarks have reignited discussions about regional disparities in social development and the political narratives surrounding women’s rights in India.

The post DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran Sparks Controversy Over North-South Comparison on Women’s Empowerment appeared first on Odisha Connect.

Mother’s Caste Determines Child’s Identity: Landmark Ruling by the Supreme Court

OdishaConnect — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:22:06 +0000

In a landmark judgment challenging long-held patriarchal norms, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that children are fully entitled to receive caste certificates based on their mother’s caste, even if the father belongs to a socially advanced community.

Historic Ruling Upholds Equality and Constitutional Rights

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P.B. Varale dismissed multiple appeals filed by the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments, affirming that children of inter-caste couples—especially those where the mother is from a Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST)—are eligible for reservation benefits through the mother.

“The mother’s caste is as much an identity as the father’s. Denying certificates on the basis of the father is discriminatory and unconstitutional,” the bench observed.

Authorities Criticised for ‘Backward’ Refusals

The case emerged after repeated denials from state authorities who rejected caste certificate applications because the father belonged to the general category—even in situations where children were raised within their mother’s SC/ST community.

Calling such refusals “backward”, the Court said the practice violated Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, as well as provisions under Articles 338 and 342, designed to protect marginalised groups.

Major Boost for Children of Marginalised Mothers

Legal experts and social justice advocates hailed the ruling as a transformative milestone.
“This eliminates the default assumption that caste is only inherited through the father,” said senior counsel Indira Jaising, who served as amicus curiae in the matter.

The judgement is expected to particularly benefit children of SC/ST mothers who marry outside their caste and often face bureaucratic barriers in accessing reservation benefits, scholarships, and community rights.

Centre Directs States to Update Guidelines Within Three Months

The Union Government has directed all states to revise administrative rules and reevaluate pending caste certificate applications within three months to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

For millions of children awaiting access to educational opportunities, employment quotas, and community-based benefits, the decision serves as a long-awaited recognition that in modern India, a mother’s lineage holds equal legal and social weight as a father’s name.

The post Mother’s Caste Determines Child’s Identity: Landmark Ruling by the Supreme Court appeared first on Odisha Connect.

Echoes of Equity: Supreme Court Raps Centre on Women’s 33% Quota Delay

OdishaConnect — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:07:54 +0000

The Supreme Court issued a landmark warning about the persistent gender inequality in India, requesting the Centre and state governments to provide answers on the implementation of a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies within four weeks. The bench, consisting of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan, called women “the biggest minority”, almost 48% of the population, and asked the question of why such equity depends on reservation at all, while at the same time it was investigating the government’s timeline for the census and delimitation.

The focus is on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, the historic 106th Constitutional Amendment of September 2023, which was celebrated as a breakthrough for the reservation of one-third of seats in Parliament, Delhi’s assembly, and all state legislatures. However, its implementation is waiting for a new census and the redrawing of boundaries, thus causing courts to be flooded with petitions like the one from Congress leader Jaya Thakur, who expresses her disbelief at the fact that, after 75 years of independence, women still have to approach the judiciary to claim their rights in a democracy.

The march towards equity is being held up by several corollary issues. According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s report of July, the number of women candidates has risen gradually from a paltry 3% in the 1957 election to 10% in 2024. Women MPs in the Lok Sabha increased from 22 in the first House to 75 in the 18th (14% of the total), whereas the number of female members in the Rajya Sabha rose from 15 in 1952 to 42 nowadays (17%). The report points out that this achievement is the result of a “whole-of-government, whole-of-society” effort which places women’s empowerment at the centre.

While answers are awaited, the question remains: Will the administrative steps cause delays in participation, or will they lead to a more courageous, far-reaching horizon? On this pivot of ballots and benches, what would be your next move?

The post Echoes of Equity: Supreme Court Raps Centre on Women’s 33% Quota Delay appeared first on Odisha Connect.