DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT

8th March, the day which is universally celebrated as women’s day. Do we actually know why is 8th March declared as International Women’s day. It is because a million women and even men rallied in support of women’s rights for the first time on 8th March.

In India, the first Women’s right movement was led by Sarojini Naidu with 14 leading women throughout India to present the demand to include women’s suffrage. The women’s movement provided a platform for women to come together to raise their voices as one big force to reckon with. It showed that women were equal as men when it came to fighting for their rights.

The most common thing that the Indian women face is domestic violence. It is any form of violence suffered by a person from biological relative; but typically is the violence suffered by a woman by male members of her family or relatives.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence_in_India

According to News 18, 27% of women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15 in India. Most of the times this violence is caused by the husband and 31% of married women have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence by their spouses.

{source :https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.news18.com/amp/news/india/the-elephant-in-the-room-every-third-woman-in-india-faces-domestic-violence-1654193.html}

The victims of domestic violence do not oppose it, in order to maintain the dignity of their family or to maintain their relationship. The victims often suffers violence because of the dowry and those harassments leads to death of the victim by serious injuries or because of they can’t take anymore and commits suicide.

In order to overcome this ruthless violence against women the government of India brought Domestic Violence Act on 26 October 2006. This act falls under IPC(Indian Penal Code) section 498A. This act was passed to help the women who suffered domestic violence. Under IPC section 498A, violence suffered by women after her marriage by her husband or In-laws will result in punishment for 3 years and a fine.

According to the records the deaths due to dowry cases averaged approximately around 8,200 between the years 2008-2012.But in 2018 the toll of deaths due to dowry has decreased to 5000. The survey also concludes that the reports of cruelty by a husband or relative are increasing every single year. Every 9 minutes, a case of cruelty is committed either by husband or relative of him.

The Maharashtra government launched the 103 helpline for women in distress. Women who face violence at home or on the street can dial 103 for immediate help. We all need to put an end to this tradition of domestic violence in India.