Waging a war against sexual assault against the fairer sex, the Punjab State Commission for Women (PSCW) has decided to put its might to protect the victims of domestic violence. The Commission has decided to launch a special drive to educate the women across the State about protection from domestic violence, their rights, and the way to protect themselves.
“Commission has chalked out a special drive to educate women about protection from domestic violence,” said PSCW chairperson Paramjit Kaur landran. Even as the Commission is yet to chalk out the detailed programme as of now, it has already started making efforts in that direction.
“The Commission members and also the chairperson were having some pre-assigned engagements because of which the process has been delayed. But, we had in the recent past organised a seminar which was attended by various experts and they have given lot of suggestions that we would consider which chalking out the plan,” the Commission’s vice-chairperson Satveer Kaur Manhera told The Pioneer.
The national seminar on “Domestic and Gender-based Violence against Women” was organised by Punjab State Women Commission in association with the National Commission for Women on March 27.
Besides State’s Social Security Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, and chief parliamentary secretary NK Sharma, the seminar was attended by Inspector General Police (Crime) Vibhu Raj, several experts, and also the Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) from all 22 districts of the state. “The CDPOs have been sensitised for strict execution of Domestic Violence Act and protect the victims,” said Manhera.
The commission, presently, was unable to provide figure regarding the number of cases related to domestic violence. “The problem of violence against women by their husbands or relatives is quite common in rural Punjab. However, the people from urban cities and towns also approach the Commission,” the Commission’s official said, requesting anonymity.
As per the figures of the National Crime Records Bureau, one case of cruelty committed by either the husband or relative of the victim occurs every nine minutes in India.
To gauge the extent of domestic violence in Punjab, this category of crime against women emerged as “biggest” with 624 registered cases on Punjab Police’s 181 helpline number in the first quarter of its launch. “It is a serious problem and we would soon hold a meeting, possibly after April 17 or so, to chalk out the entire programme,” said Manhera.
In addition to 181 helpline, the state government, in the recent past, has initiated several steps to protect the fair sex. It has set up five “women Police Stations” at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala, ludhiana and Bathinda to facilitate them.
Besides, directions have been issued to the district police chiefs to personally monitor the cases of crime against women. In contrast, the latest reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India had indicted the state government for its failure to utilized funds meant for spreading awareness against domestic violence.
Against the total budget of Rs 1.75 crore during 2009-13, only Rs 30 lakh — that is 17 per cent — could be utilized by the government. In 2013-14 too, not even a single paisa was allotted for the programme of awareness regarding domestic violence — reflecting the “apathetic attitude of the government”.
As per the available information, the Commission, on an average, received over 2000 complaints, regarding issues affecting the quality of life to women, annually.
Set up with the aim to improve the status of women in the State, the Commission deals with the unfair practices affecting the women, like dowry problem, attempt to murder, rape, suicide, kidnapping, molestation, eve-teasing, immoral trafficking, domestic violence, female foeticide and so forth.