Mother's signature should be considered sufficient: Renuka

New Delhi, Sep 18 (UNI) Union Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury today said that she would soon take up with all Ministries concerned the issue of mandatory mention of father's name along with the mother's in all official forms where parents' signatures are required.

''The signature of the mother should be considered enough for all purposes. Some men do not divorce their spouses, keep them hanging and expect them to go down on their knees before them for these official documents. This is not fair,'' she said, speaking at a workshop of the National Commission for Women.

In the case where either of the parents is to sign, option should be left to the adult child to get it signed by his/her mother or father, the Minister added.

On NRI marriages, she said her Ministry was in touch with the External Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of NRI Affairs to ensure protection of women in the case of overseas employment and NRI marriages.

''Some NRIs come with the intention to marry Indian girls and later dupe them. The law should be strengthened to catch them. We can use our existing bilaterals with countries like the UK, the US, Canada and Australia to nab such culprits,'' she said, Ms Chowdhury said a bill to check sexual harassment at the workplace was also being finalised and would soon be placed in Parliament. She said that there was need to ensure effective implementation of the Dowry Prohibition Act and awareness drive should be taken for the purpose and to check misuse of the Act.

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