India, March 20 -- West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC) government has proposed to lift a 116-year-old ban on bars employing women through a legislation passed by the assembly.

Minister of state for finance (independent charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya, who presented the West Bengal Finance Bill 2025 before the legislative assembly on Wednesday, said. "Women couldn't work at on-shops until now. They will get this opportunity. We all talk about gender equality. That's what we kept in mind while taking this decision."

The ban was imposed by the British through the Bengal Excise Act 1909 when Kolkata (then Calcutta) was the capital of India.

The government's decision will come into force once the governor clears the Bill, which was passed...