Change proposed to replace women

Government has proposed an amendment bill to the Decentralization Act to abolish the women’s development committees established under the local councils and establish four different advisory bodies, including a women’s advisory committee.

The bill, proposed by ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Abdul Azeez Jamaal Aboobakuru, seeks to amendment to Article 35 of the Decentralization Act to replace the women development committees with four other advisory committees for each council; a women’s development advisory committee, an economic development advisory committee, an infrastructure advisory committee and a social development advisory committee.

The amendment also seeks to require all property and funds owned by the existing women’s development committees to be transferred to their respective councils. However, it also states that the council must seek the advise of the new women’s development advisory committee in utilizing the property and funds.

Article 35 of the Decentralization Act states that a Women’s Development Committee must be established under every island council for the respective island, elected through an election held amongst the women of that island.

Government has recently proposed a number of amendments to the 2010 Decentralization Act.