At the receiving end of societal discrimination embedded deep in the collective psyche, women across Haridwar district are suffering atrocities. There is not even a single day on which such complaints are not registered on the Women Helpline.
As per the records lying with it, almost two to three women register complaints a day across the district. This is despite the fact that SSP, the head of the district police department, happened to be a woman. Notably, Women Helpline No 1090 was started in the district in 2002. Five staff members are engaged in the district Women Helpline cell of Haridwar.
It is pertinent to mention that there are 19 police stations across the district. However, there is not even a single all-women police station here. Besides, there is not a single lady Inspector posted across the district. Out of ten sanctioned post of women head constables, only four are posted in the district police.
Statistics revealed that around two to three complaints related to dowry, marital disputes, domestic violence and other family tussles are being reported almost daily by the aggrieved women hailing from far -flung areas of the district at Haridwar Women’s Helpline. According to the in- charge of women helpline Sub-Inspector (SI) Sarita Saha, they are providing counselling to the women regarding domestic disputes. She further said that sometimes, the number of counselling rises up to eight. “This happens when we feel things are looking up. We try our best to keep the family bond intact,” she added.
Mention worthy, the aggrieved women of the district can file complaint from across the district in three ways. Initially, they may call the district women helpline-1090. If the official data of the district women helpline is to be believed, in the last quarter of the financial year 2014-15 (during January to March, 2015), total 87 complaints were filed by the women across the district. Out of this, 77 complaints were disposed off and 10 cases are still pending.
Secondly, they may register complaints in the complaint cell located at SSP Haridwar office at district headquarters at Roshnabad. A total of 96 complaints are learnt to have been lodged here. Seventy disputes have been disposed off with 26 disputes still pending.
Finally, if things do not improve by two steps being resorted to, the aggrieved women may move court.
Sarita said cases of domestic tiffs coming up despite the family life remaining unscathed are galore. “This indicates the tiny, yet important familial threads are weakening fast,” she opined.