Law has to be equal irrespective of Genders. When a husband files for divorce and wife contests it, then she gets maintenance if she is not able to sustain herself. The same way, if wife files for divorce and husband contests it, then wife(if earning) has to pay maintenance if husband is not able to sustain himself.
Time has come where men and women both share the responsibility of protecting and providing for family. We have have to free people from strict patriarchal gender roles.
Both men and women must be encouraged to work so that the legal concept of alimony or maintenance can be eliminated. In such situation, only children or elders and sick may only be allowed to claim alimony or maintenance.
If we follow concept of gender equality, then husband no longer should protect and provide for his wife and vice versa. But both have to protect and provide for children and old/sick elders.
Its good that Rediff has started an initiative to ponder over this issue.
