Dr Tasaduq Itoo
Burden of domestic violence in Jammu & Kashmir
Domestic violence has emerged as a serious issue of concern in Jammu and Kashmir during the recent times. However, its actual extent is difficult to measure. It may be very much higher than what the reports indicate because many instances of domestic violence against women are not reported. The research studies and surveys conducted by individuals generally produce higher estimates of violence than official records. However, they are also assumed to underestimate the actual extent of domestic violence against women. For a variety of reasons, respondents may fail to report violence that takes place in the family.
As per an official record from Ministry of Home Affairs , in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, as many as 4157 people have been booked in over 2009 cases of domestic violence during the recent years. As per the official figures, districts of Jammu region have shown immense rise in cases of domestic violence than Kashmir region.
Among the 22 districts, Jammu, the winter capital of the UT, comes first with booking of 1247 people in 455 cases of domestic violence against women. More to say ,the winter capital is followed by Doda district where 551 people have been booked in 325 cases, adding 546 people have been booked in 325 cases in Rajouri district. Besides this, Poonch district accounts for 221 people booked in 100 cases, 204 people booked in 98 cases in Udhampur district, 178 people booked in 60 cases in Kishtwar, 177 people booked in 82 cases in Kathua, 103 persons booked in 38 cases in Samba, 75 such people were booked in 38 cases in Ramban and 60 persons booked in 33 cases in Reasi district.
As per the same record from MHA – in Kashmir valley, 439 people have been booked in 255 cases in Srinagar district, 91 people were booked in 71 cases in Baramulla, 72 people booked in 29 cases in Anantnag, 44 people each were booked in 17 and 12 cases in Pulwama and Ganderabal districts respectively. Besides , 32 people were booked in 28 cases in Kupwara, 26 people booked in 12 such cases in Bandipora, 23 persons booked in 17 cases in Budgam, 15 people booked in six cases in Shopian, five people booked in four cases in Kulgam.
Possible causes of domestic violence
There are a number of causes of domestic violence against women. These causes range from the trivial to bizarre and include mainly the following – not doing house work properly, dressing fashionably, jealousy of husband, husband’s alcoholism, dowry demands, husband’s mistress, laughing without reason, combing hairs a number of times during day, high tone during dialogue, free and social nature, close relations with friends, boy friends, disrespectful behaviour with elders in the family, refusal to bring money from parent’s house, partial fulfillment or non-fulfillment of promises made at the time of marriage, doubt of love affairs before marriage, doubt of extra-marital relations, resistance for abnormal sexual behaviour of the husband, no child bearing capability, birth of girl child repeatedly, husband economically dependent on parents, husband has problems at work place, sexual difficulties, low job satisfaction, single personality factor, antisocial personality disorders. In addition to the reasons listed above there may also be a long list of reasons which are not identified or reported by the victims of domestic violence.
Nature and forms of domestic violence
The domestic violence against women may be in the form of; (a) Physical Violence: The most common and frequently used forms of physical violence used against women are- Slaps (ii) beating (iii) pulsing (iv) Kicking (v) throwing objects (vi) beating with cane (vii) Burning with rod (viii) holding with rope (ix) Sexual coercion or assault (b)Emotional Abuse : The mental or emotional abuse of a woman may take the following forms -(i) Using abusive language (ii) Insulting her in the presence of children, other member of the family and relatives (iii) Blaming her for everything that goes wrong in the family (iv) Charging her frequently on small and negligible issues (v) Making her feel guilty for no fault of her (vi) Calling her names (vii) Giving her threat of divorce (viii) Treating her like a servant (ix) Keeping a strict watch on her movements (x) Prohibiting her from meeting her friends and relatives (xi) Prohibiting her from expression of her view on family matters (xii) Suspecting her for extra-marital relations (xiv) Using ugly and insulting language for her parents (xv) Insulting her for house-keeping (xvi) Demeaning her family background (xvii) Criticising her for lacking intelligence (xviii) Threatening her to commit suicide (xviv) Giving her verbal threats to use physical force (xvv) Threats to kill or burn. (c) Economic Abuse: Following are the most frequently used forms of economic abuse against women-(i) Preventing her from taking a job (ii) Forcing her to leave present job (iii) Not allowing her to purchase things of her liking and choice (iv) Stopping her from access to resources or money (v) Pressurising her to bring money from her parents and so on.
Recommendations
* A massive awareness campaign involving the community, religious leaders, women’s organisations, NGOs, and opinion makers at all levels is necessary to counter the present trend of violence against women in general and domestic violence in particular.
* Domestic violence against women is an area where rights of women are not fully secured by laws and there are laws which are either discriminatory against women or provide a weak enforcement and punishment mechanism. Hence, it is necessary to see that the legal provisions against perpetrators of domestic violence are strictly enforced and no one is left without punishment. Moreover, the entire gamut of laws related to abuse and harassment of women need a comprehensive and thorough review in the light of the present trends and requirements.
* A carefully planned mass media strategy is of critical importance for women’s employment in general and domestic violence against women in particular.The Government should provide adequate resources for implementation of such a comprehensive media strategy for social change, awareness and education on the issue of domestic violence.
* The Government should conduct regular training programmes of law enforcement officers, judges, other court personnel and prosecutors to identify and respond more effectively to the cases of domestic violence against women in particular and crimes against women in general. The units of law enforcement officers specially targeting domestic violence against women should be created, developed, trained and expanded. Similarly, data collection and communication systems, linking police, prosecutors and courts for the purpose of identifying domestic violence against women should be introduced.
* The Government should develop, enlarge and strengthen social support services programmes for the women who are victims of domestic violence.
* Very few victims of domestic violence approach to medical professionals for treatment. Very few, again, disclose that the mental or physical injury is caused due to domestic violence. It is, therefore, necessary to give proper training to our medical personnel in dealing with and treating the cases of domestic violence against women. The training should cover the collection and preservation of evidence, analysis, providing expert testimony and treatment.
* The Government should carry out the implementation of comprehensive strategies addressing domestic violence against women that are sensitive to the needs and safety of the victims and hold offenders accountable for their crimes.
* The Government should encourage to develop and support projects to implement community driven initiatives to address the needs of victims of domestic violence. A large number of NGOs have emerged in different parts of the state, having to their credit significant contribution, expertise, and experience at grass-root level in projecting and addressing women issues. The services of these organisations should be encouraged, supported and availed of, so that the eradication of the evil of domestic violence against women becomes a truely peoples’ movement.
* Another deep concern of women in the rural areas, is the tremendous physical and emotional violence which they experience when the men in their families are drunk. Freedom of families from liquor is their first need. The Government should enforce the prohibition on alcoholism in more widespread and effective ways in their efforts to minimise the incidence of domestic violence against women.
* Most of the victims of Domestic Violence are uneducated, backward and economically disadvantaged. The legal aid and advice should be made available to them without any cost.
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