Andhra Pradesh weighs making father’s name optional in official documents

VIJAYAWADA Officials of various government departments, child rights organisations, the AP Mahila Commission and NGOs on Tuesday discussed the proposal to make a father’s name optional in all official documents. The Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR), in association with NGOs Children India Foundation (CIF) and HELP, organised a State-level consultation on ‘Making Father’s Name Not Mandatory in Documents’ here.

APSCPCR Chairman Vetukuri A.V.S.S.N. Raju said the Commission welcomed the views of experts from various sectors on making a father’s name optional, particularly for children of sex workers, divorced couples and orphans, as well as those who did not wish to mention their fathers’ names in applications.

A.P. Mahila Commission Chairperson Rayapati Sailaja said children should not be forced to discontinue their education or be denied employment opportunities because of certain rules.