Domestic abuse: More women speak up, but is govt listening?

CHENNAI: Five names in Dr Nazira Sadiq’s register have red dots against them. One had consulted the gynaecologist after a miscarriage, the other wanted to terminate her pregnancy, two of them had nicks on the thighs, and a fifth bruises beneath an eye. All of them were victims of domestic violence. Four of them continue to live with the perpetrators.
While many like them choose to or are forced to live with their abusive husbands, state records have shown an encouraging trend: More women are reaching out for help.The number of domestic violence petitions referred to the social welfare department from Chennai increased from 3,306 in 2014 to 5,274 last year (up by 60%). Across the state, 38,558 women complained of domestic violence, 600 of whom required immediate medical treatment. Chennai reported the highest.

While more women are opening up, the state finds itself ill-equipped to help them. Less than half of the petitions received last year translated into police complaints, the rest were ‘resolved’ through counselling, which, petitioners’ say, involves sending them back into abusive marriages. On an average, less than 500 were registered as police complaints in each district.

Prasanna Gettu, founder of International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC), said the climb in the number of domestic violence cases being reported was significant. “It is the highest in Chennai probably because of awareness. But are these women getting help?” she said.
Chennai, for example, has only two protection officers for survivors of domestic violence. Both of them ‘resolved’ 2,785 disputes without filing a case under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. “The cases referred to them are usually of serious nature like if there is a threat to the woman’s life or a restraining order is required,” said Prasanna.
And this reflects in their counselling. Amrutha*, a 32-year-old mother of two, said she approached police after fleeing from her abusive husband two years ago. “They didn’t register a case and asked me to think of my children and go back,” she said. The second time she approached police, she was referred to a protection officer. Amrutha now lives separately.
Though the protection under domestic violence act was enacted in 2005, the NCRB started collecting data under the law in 2014. Even now, data collected by NCRB includes only criminal violations of court orders. NCRB data shows TN had zero cases in 2016. The same year, the social welfare department received 34,722 domestic violence cases.
Officials, doctors and non-governmental organisations say although women are slowly opening up , they are reluctant to report domestic violence to authorities. “Financial situation, stigma, future of their children and predatory elements within the community deter them,” said Dr Shanthi Gunasingh, head of the Government Hospital for Women and Children in Egmore.
Another flaw in implementation of the law is that there is no uniform protocol for service providers who in this case are mostly NGOs and have no link with the police or with protection officers. Only a minority reach the courts. Even here they are let down. “Under the Act, the case should be closed in 60 days, but we have cases prolonging for the past three years,” said advocate Sudha Ramalingam.
Director of social welfare V Amuthavalli said the government was introducing a series of measures to help these women. “We are going beyond counselling to helping them through the legal process and empowering them through training programmes,” she said. “But we still have a long way to go especially in integrating multiple services for these women,” she added.