Domestic violence complaints halve in Chandigarh

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 22

In contrast to the projections of rise in the number of domestic violence incidences during the lockdown, the reported calls related to family disputes and domestic violence have reduced by 50 per cent in the UT.

It has been observed that in the pre-lockdown period (between March 9 and March 22), around 181 calls were reported. During the lockdown period (between March 23 and April 4), only 93 calls have been made to the police control room (PCR) and 22 complaints filed at the public window.

However, experts claim that the trend can be rather disturbing as the point of worry is whether there is access to the helpline.

Mahavir Singh, State Legal Service Authority, UT, said: “The women may not have access to such helpline numbers. They may not be able to reach out for help as they are all locked in their homes. The women in lower strata don’t have proper guidance.”

Dr Jyoti Seth, a former sociology professor at the PGGC-42 and member of the Advisory Council of Jagori Rural Charitable Trust, said: “Women, particularly in the two sections of society – middle and lower class — may have problems in accessing the helpline. There is a space constraint in the lower strata with four to five family members living in a room. How can these women get a chance to seek help?”

Seth, who also deals with the subject of violence, adds: “In a majority of the cases, women afflicted with violence reached out to us through references in the community.”

Distressed women in the city are making frantic calls on the women helpline and to the Chandigarh Police Women Cell, but the call rate is quite low. The women helpline (181) received six calls related to domestic violence. The helpline staff is providing couples with counselling with the help of the police.

A UT women helpline official, Vikram Jeet Godwani, said: “All six calls related to violence have been settled by the helpline. We cannot rehabilitate women in distress in shelter homes during the lockdown. Why will any woman move out of her home? We have been assuring women that we will sort out the problems at our own level.”

Godwani said: “The lockdown may have intensified aggression.” DSP Charanjit Singh said: “In most cases, counselling is being provided. If we think there is a danger to life, we take preventive action.”