Surge in Domestic Violence amid lockdown

Introduction

For a very long time, women have suffered and faced a lot in this cruel world. Women remained the most neglected section of our society. It was from the mid 19th century, women started raising their voice and some changes were done in Indian Statues and laws for their well being. But the sad reality of today’s world is that, on one hand, they are being compared to Goddesses, on another hand they are being beaten, abused, and often treated as slaves. However, domestic violence is not new for India, but it is increasing like a pandemic. The cases of Domestic violence is not increasing in India, WHO has also said that cases of domestic violence are increasing globally.

Domestic Violence, a pandemic for women

When the whole world is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, women are suffering from another kind of pandemic which is even more hostile than coronavirus, whose name is domestic violence. Not only Indian Women are facing domestic violence, but women all over the world are also facing this problem.

As per the reports by the National Commission for Woman (NCW), there is a great upsurge in the number of cases during coronavirus lockdown. From March 23 to April 16, the number of complaints reported to NCW are 587 out of which 239 are related to domestic violence. This is approx. double to the number of complaints they received last month. 

There could be many reasons behind this, maybe abusers are so much frustrated from loss of their jobs, spending too much time at their homes or they might be addicted to alcohol or other drugs and lack of the same lead to take out their frustration on woman or children as they are those sections of society which are taught to bear everything silently.

Ways in which corona is similar to domestic violence

Changing forms and ways to attack
Domestic Violence is similar to coronavirus in many forms, like corona, it also keeps on changing its forms and ways of attacking. Sometimes it attacks women mentally, sometimes it attacks physically.

Ways to safeguard
Social distancing is described as the most effective way to safeguard yourself from corona, the same is the case with domestic violence, distancing yourself and avoiding too much contact with your abuser is the best effective way to avoid domestic violence. Moreover, keeping a woman with its abuser is similar to keeping a healthy person with a  COVID-19 diagnosed person.

Treatment Methods
It is suggested to report to a doctor and treat yourself if you are suffering from coronavirus Similarly, it is suggested to report to the police if you are facing any kind of domestic violence. As doctors give high antibiotics to cure coronavirus, similarly judges also give high punishments to the abuser of the victim to stop them from further doing it.

Result of the severe form
The most severe form of COVID-19 often leads to death in many cases. Similarly, some of the women end up their life when domestic violence takes its most severe form. 

Indian statues and acts to protect women from Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Act, 2005

Domestic Violence is very elaboratory defined in this act. As defined by the provisions of this act, domestic violence doesn’t only include physical abuse, it also includes mental abuse. A woman can gain protection order from Protection Officer, magistrate by this act if she is facing domestic violence and reported the same.

Section 498 A of IPC

This Section of IPC was enacted to protect women from any form of cruelty or violence. If a person is found guilty,  he/she can be punished with imprisonment up to three years and fine.

I have discussed only two laws that are there in Indian statues to safeguard women from domestic violence but there are various other laws as well for women. The need is to the aware women about the laws available to them and to educate them about reporting the domestic violence cases.

How to report domestic violence in India

You can either report to the local police station of your area or call on woman helpline no.- 181 or can even report to the National Commission for Woman or the local Woman Commission of your state. Recently, NCW has launched a Whatsapp number, 7217735372 to let women report their cases easily.

Conclusion

In the end, I only want to say this to all those women facing domestic violence, that they must never cope down in any situation and have the courage to face everything as there is always a new morning to every night. Raise your voice and report if you are facing any kind of violence as the one who doesn't report about the crime is a bigger criminal than the one who committed it. So, be courageous in every aspect of life, as nar+aari is equivalent to naari.