Session Report
Aqsa Qureshi
A Four Week Online Certificate Training Course on “Ending Violence Against Women: Awareness of Laws and Policies in India”, organized by the Gender Impact Studies Center (GISC), at the IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi. The session was on “Domestic Violence: An Overview, Issues and Challenges” by Dr Keerthi Bollineni, President, Vasavya Mahila Mandali, Vijayawada.
Dr Keerthi Bollineni further covered the challenges faced by the victims, she talked about lack of support systems at family, community and systems level. Low self-esteem to speak up for domestic violence and fear to report to police about revictimization and shame. How family members expect to get adjusted, to keep family honor. There exists Gender insensitivity by service providers and delayed justice, non-implementation of orders such as Maintenance.
She suggested measures for Maintenance Law –
- Separate Law to be enacted
- Quasi Judicial Body with a Magistrate, Collector and women expert
- All Maintenance cases to be dealt for speedy justice
- Enquiry not investigative procedures and court trials
- Within 60 days interim order and 180 days final from the date of application
- Monitoring mechanism by this body
She talks about the importance of a New Thinking Process by suggesting that divorce, restitution of conjugal rights and child guardianship to be under one section so that the women victim appears to one time. Emphasises on using G20 an opportunity to be used for bringing changes in laws and policies that are not survivor centric.Relief and rehabilitation to go together for the development of women victims.
Post Nirbhaya Violence
Post-2012, Nirbhaya Gang rape case, a dedicated fund was set up in 2013 with the focus on implementing the initiatives aimed at improving the security and safety of women in India. The fund was called “Nirbhava Fund”, Nirbhaya meaning fearless, the pseudonym given to the gang-rape victim to conceal her identity. An Empowered Committee was set up on 26.10.2015 to appraise and recommend proposals to be funded under Nirbhaya Fund. It grants funds to central or state governments with match fund to initiate innovative initiatives.
One Stop Center Background
Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), formulated a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for setting up One Stop Centre as a sub – scheme of Umbrella Scheme for National Mission fo Empowerment of women including Indira Gandhi Mattritav Sahyaog Yojana started from 01 April 2015
One Stop Centers – SAKHI
Centers
The objectives of the Scheme are:
• To provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence, both in private and public spaces under one roof.
• To facilitate immediate, emergency and non – emergency access to a range of services including medical, legal, psychological and counselling support under one roof to fight against any forms of violence against women.
Target group
• The OSC will support all women affected by violence, irrespective of caste, class, religion, region, sexual orientation or marital status.
With this Dr Keerthi Bollineni concluded the session.
Acknowledgement: Aqsa is a research intern at IMPRI.
Read more session reports on web policy learning events conducted by IMPRI:
Legal Safeguards and Constitutional Rights against VAW
Substantive Equality: A Constitutional Safeguard for Women
