‘Divorce high among TN Muslim women’

CHENNAI: Syed Shahezadi, Member of National Commission for Minorities (NCM), on Thursday alleged that divorce rate among Muslim women is one of the highest in Tamil Nadu. “I have asked the state government to take steps to provide self-employment to divorced Muslim women and to provide skill development training. Actually, there are very few centres to provide skill development to women and when it comes to women from minority communities there are no such centres,” said Shahezadi.

Shahezadi was in the city for a two-day inspection in which she held three meetings, one with the members of Waqf Board, state Minorities Commission and the state Hajj Committee.

Asked whether she has any data to substantiate her claims, she said that her observation was based on the feedback from the Muslim women and Islamic leaders who attended the meeting in Chennai. Those who attended the meeting informed that the divorce rate of Muslim women is high in the state.

Shahezadi rued that despite her holding the rank of Minister of State, she was not provided facilities according to the protocol by the state. “It is not right on the part of the state to deny facilities according to the protocol. I have informed this to Minister for Minorities Gingee KS Mastan.”