GUWAHATI, Aug 26 � Despite various legal provisions in the country to protect women against abuse, they are still victims of domestic violence, dowry, bigamy, rape, kidnapping and other forms of atrocities, both physical and mental.
Women in the State have been subjected to all forms of abuse and what the scenario here is like can be easily understood from the facts and figures available with the Assam State Commission for Women (ASCW).
Spanning over the period from 1994 to June 2010, the Commission has entertained and disposed off hundreds of cases from its Guwahati office.
During this period the Commission�s Guwahati office received a total of 1305 cases and it disposed off 585 cases. It needs to be mentioned here that topping the list are the cases related to domestic violence. That the Domestic Violence Act is yet to bring succour to the women is reflected in the number of domestic violence cases entertained by the Commission. A total of 514 cases related to domestic violence have been entertained by the Commission�s Guwahati office so far.
Chairperson of the Commission Mridula Saharia said that violence against women in Assam and other North East States has been increasing over the years. Though traditionally women has been enjoying much freedom and respect than their counterparts in other parts of the country, in the last few years the region has been witnessing growing crime against women much to the concern of the civil society groups.
�Legal awareness is very low amongst the women. So we are focusing on legal awareness programmes so that women know about their rights and the provisions implemented for their protection,� said Saharia observing that an enlightened group of women can stand up for their rights.
In view of growing violence perpetrated within the confines of the four walls called homes, the Commission has started organizing seminars and sensitization workshops on the Domestic Violence Act across the State.
Women, because they have been brought up on lessons of sacrifice and tolerance since birth, have been suffering and shedding silent tears on account of their erring spouses. But some have garnered enough courage to fight back against the injustice meted out to them and have approached the Guwahati office. Women whose husbands have deserted them for another woman have complained to the Commission. Cases in connection to bigamy with the Commission total to 60 in this period.
Dowry, the scourge of modern society which everyone complacently believed was not the problem of a State like Assam has shaken many families, and shattered many dreams. A total of 134 dowry cases have been entertained by the Commission�s office here. On the other hand, a total of 41 cases in connection to kidnapping and 89 rape cases have been received by the Commission. Another 303 miscellaneous cases have been received by the Commission during this period.
GUWAHATI, Aug 26 � Despite various legal provisions in the country to protect women against abuse, they are still victims of domestic violence, dowry, bigamy, rape, kidnapping and other forms of atrocities, both physical and mental.
Women in the State have been subjected to all forms of abuse and what the scenario here is like can be easily understood from the facts and figures available with the Assam State Commission for Women (ASCW).
Spanning over the period from 1994 to June 2010, the Commission has entertained and disposed off hundreds of cases from its Guwahati office.
During this period the Commission�s Guwahati office received a total of 1305 cases and it disposed off 585 cases. It needs to be mentioned here that topping the list are the cases related to domestic violence. That the Domestic Violence Act is yet to bring succour to the women is reflected in the number of domestic violence cases entertained by the Commission. A total of 514 cases related to domestic violence have been entertained by the Commission�s Guwahati office so far.
Chairperson of the Commission Mridula Saharia said that violence against women in Assam and other North East States has been increasing over the years. Though traditionally women has been enjoying much freedom and respect than their counterparts in other parts of the country, in the last few years the region has been witnessing growing crime against women much to the concern of the civil society groups.
�Legal awareness is very low amongst the women. So we are focusing on legal awareness programmes so that women know about their rights and the provisions implemented for their protection,� said Saharia observing that an enlightened group of women can stand up for their rights.
In view of growing violence perpetrated within the confines of the four walls called homes, the Commission has started organizing seminars and sensitization workshops on the Domestic Violence Act across the State.
Women, because they have been brought up on lessons of sacrifice and tolerance since birth, have been suffering and shedding silent tears on account of their erring spouses. But some have garnered enough courage to fight back against the injustice meted out to them and have approached the Guwahati office. Women whose husbands have deserted them for another woman have complained to the Commission. Cases in connection to bigamy with the Commission total to 60 in this period.
Dowry, the scourge of modern society which everyone complacently believed was not the problem of a State like Assam has shaken many families, and shattered many dreams. A total of 134 dowry cases have been entertained by the Commission�s office here. On the other hand, a total of 41 cases in connection to kidnapping and 89 rape cases have been received by the Commission. Another 303 miscellaneous cases have been received by the Commission during this period.
