यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यंते, रमन्ते तत्र देवता ।
Means: Where women are honoured, There roams God.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, (PWDVA) 2005 resulted from years of effort by women’s and other civil society organisations in India. The PWDVA, which came into force in October 2006, is a gender-specific law that recognises that Women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence because of their unequal position in society vis-a-vis men.

Quick report came in November 2007, after PWDVA’s first year that about 9000 case were filed during the year. By 2008 the number of cases filed under PWDVA had crossed 14000. This number has now crossed 20000 according to the report. But activists say this represents just the tip of the iceberg. The above data are based on only Northern States. The number could be more. This Act is getting failed because of bad deeds of budgetary constraints, inadequate staff & structures, poor coordination between relevant official agencies and, of course, the continuing lack of public awareness.

Looking at the period before the PWDVAct i.e. 2005-06, I found that 37.2% (More than A Third, i.e., 18 milion) women had experienced spousal violence. [SOURCE: 3rd National Family Health Survey 2005-06] So, just a few cases filed out of millions. I accept that the ratio is decreased from 56% (1999) to 37%, but still its very very high.

Only society is not the reason for it, but women self bear the toleration for years before they voice against it. A survey in Delhi (one of the most developed parts in the country) revealed that an average woman had been voilenced for 4.2 year before she could complaint to police. Well this is our country capital, then what should be the situation of other states, specially Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh?

Even though laws against dowry have been made stricter since the early 1980s, the enduring practice is cited as the chief trigger for physical violence by husbands and in-laws.

What I say about other people, I have seen tens of Women being torchered in my child age. Even my mother had been mentally torchered by her in-laws (my big family) . [We leaved our parential home & broke our big family & changed into short & happy family.]

India’s head of State is a woman, the leader of biggest political party is a woman and………blah blah…we say. But the root is below the zero. One is forced to conclude that the position of women is getting improved, but the more things remain the same. Only a woman can tell you the real condition of her “existence”, i.e., the feminism. I am not a woman but I have felt that there are structural inequalities in all spheres– economic, political, cultural, legal, educational etc. Few are trying to keep the feminism up, but maximum are keeping it down.

Tell me in which category you are, by commenting below?

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• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (indialawyers.wordpress.com)