The Parliamentary panel assigned to examine the landmark bill which seeks to raise the legal age of marriage for women to 21 has only one woman MP out of 31 members.

The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha during the winter session and referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports.

The Bill, piloted by the Women and Child Development Ministry, seeks to increase the legal age of marriage from 18 to 21.

According to the members’ list of the parliamentary standing committee, led by senior BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, available on the Rajya Sabha website, Trinamool MP Sushmita Dev is the only woman among the 31 members.

When contacted, Ms. Dev said it would have been better if there were more women MPs in the panel.

“I wish there were more women MPs in the committee but having said that we will make sure all interest groups are heard,” Ms. Dev said. Echoing similar sentiments, NCP MP Supriya Sule, who has been raising women-centric issues in Parliament, said there should have been more women MPs in the panel.

However, she added that the chairman has the power to invite people before the panel. So for more inclusive and wider discussions, he can invite other women MPs.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports is a Rajya Sabha administered Committee. Parties nominate members based on their strength in the House.

The introduction of the Bill was opposed by some members who contended that the move infringed upon several personal laws in violation of fundamental rights and demanded that it be referred to a Parliamentary panel.

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