Maneka Gandhi wants lifting of age bar for widows appearing in competitive exams

NEW DELHI: In a slew of gender friendly measures Union minister Maneka Gandhi has sought an age waiver for widows allowing them to sit for competitive exams for government and PSU jobs. The minister has also suggested tax rebates for single married women with children and parents who have adopted children besides increasing incentives for higher education of girl children.

The minister who holds charge of the ministry of women and child development (WCD) is likely to meet PM Narendra Modi proposing these changes.

PM Modi had asked council of ministers to give suggestions for the Union Budget.

Sources said that Gandhi had raised the issue of relaxing the age for widows sitting for competitive exams. ``The age limit for UPSC exams for instance is 30 years. Many women are left without a source of income after their husband dies. If they are well-educated, qualified with degrees why should they not get a shot at a government or a PSU job only because of an age barrier,’’ a source said.

Among the proposals is offering tax rebates for single married women with children. ``This is a move to ensure that women who are separated, divorced or widowed are not financially burdened,’’ officials said. According to Census 2011, 47 million women are either widowed, divorced or separated. This forms 3% of the total population of women in the country. The number of single women is considerably larger since many women are abandoned, deserted, unmarried which may not reflect in the census records as they are officially divorced or separated.

The minister, sources said, was also keen that couples who were opting for adoption receive a tax rebate. ``The ministry has already sought for maternity leave to be given to women who are adopting children. A tax rebate will be an added benefit for such prospective parents and will encourage people to adopt,’’ the source said.

The ministry has also recommended that a relief fund be created for children of those farmers who have committed suicide or are bankrupt besides offering more incentives for higher education of girl children.