A divorced woman from Sikkim has raised concerns over the insensitivity of government job application forms that continue to restrict “Marital Status” options to only two categories — Married or Unmarried.
The applicant, who recently applied for a government post, expressed her frustration, saying the system fails to recognize the independent identity of divorced women. “I am not unmarried — I was married for four years, so no authority can issue me an unmarried certificate. But I am also not married anymore. Why should I still claim to be married to my ex-husband who is already remarried?” she asked.
She pointed out that such limitations create unnecessary hurdles for divorced women. “If I am unmarried, I need my father’s documents; if I am married, I need my husband’s. Do I not have an identity of my own? What is the point of owning a Certificate of Identification if it just sits laminated in my briefcase?” she questioned.
The woman also criticized the state’s repeated emphasis on Nari Shakti and Women Empowerment, calling it symbolic rather than practical. “We celebrate women’s empowerment days, hold programmes and campaigns, but in real policies like this, where is the recognition of women and their rights?” she said.
Her grievance highlights the urgent need for reforms in government documentation and job application forms to include additional categories such as Divorced and Widowed. Advocates say this change is necessary to ensure fairness, dignity, and equal recognition for all women in Sikkim.
