The root causes of domestic violence in Kashmir is illiteracy, far away from deen Frustration, poverty, unemployment, wrong interpretation of religion, drug addiction, immoral activities and rise of consumerism.
|| FAROOQ AHMAD BAKLOO
Women are the most vulnerable section of the society from very beginning women faces a discrimination and violence in family (Sebastian 2001). 10-69% of women are the victims of domestic violence globally (W.H.O. 2012). Women became the easy targets of Violence at local as well as international level. In Bosnia a huge number near about 20,000 to 35,000 women were forcefully raped this was the part of policy ethnic cleaning to make the Bosnia a Serbian state by implanting Serbian babies through forced pregnancies in Bosnia Muslim Mothers( J.NN Tickner the Globalization of world politics 2011).
There are various theories which emphasis on the causes of violence against women. Men abuse women because they are mentally ill should be go for medication (Initial theory 1970). Men abuse women because they have learnt this during Childhood ( Mihalic and Ellott 1977). Anger and frustration are the root cause of violence against women (Ganley and Susan 1995).Expression of feelings of frustration and anger is the main cause of tension and violence.(Walker 1980) Violence against women, arises due to the unequal distribution of power in the patriarchy society (Keel 2005). Due to the high patriarchy environment in India, woman faces a lot of domestic violence (Sahoo and Pradhan). In India the domestic violence against women is not the new phenomena.
Every day lot of reports are published in local and national newspapers about the incidents of domestic violence. Due to the rigid cultural norms the women became the soft victims. In addition of this the chief cause of domestic violence in India are Poverty, Drug addiction, lack of education, rigid social and cultural norms, wrong interpretation of religion, dominance of traditional bodies like Khap panchayats , lack of awareness among the women. Out of 5818.38 lakhs 295930 women in India face different types of violence against them (NCCB Report 2013).
The situation of women in Kashmir are very worse the women flock in the valley face lot of abuses in various forms like verbal, emotional, and physical by the members of the family one cannot forget the horrible incident of the Vehil Village of shopan where 21 year old Aasiya was burned by her husband as per the police investigation and another incident of Khanyar Srinagar were girl died by the burn injuries.
Many times Poverty and illiteracy open the doors of violence against women a study was conducted by the Empower people in 2012-13 reported that amongst women trafficked majority 79 % were from Muslim Families 17% from S.T and 4% from S.C families. Domestic violence in Kashmir The root causes of domestic violence in Kashmir is illiteracy, far away from deen Frustration, poverty, unemployment, wrong interpretation of religion, drug addiction, immoral activities and rise of consumerism.
The situation of women in Kashmir are very worse the women flock in the valley face lot of abuses in various forms like verbal, emotional, and physical by the members of the family one cannot forget the horrible incident of the Vehil Village of shopan where 21 year old Aasiya was burned by her husband as per the police investigation and another incident of Khanyar Srinagar were girl died by the burn injuries. The incidents of domestic violence against the women are culminating in the valley but most cases are not registered at the police stations by the victim because of the fear of family and the society. In 2014, 3000 domestic violence cases were reported by the women police station as every day a dozen cases of domestic violence were reported (Sana Shafiat all 2015).In Kashmir the rise of domestic violence is a great concern (Mirwaiz, 2015).
The incidents of domestic violence against the women are culminating in the valley but most cases are not registered at the police stations by the victim because of the fear of family and the society.
From Jan, 2015 to September 2015 2000 complaints of domestic violence were filled at the Rambagh Police station. According to survey of Multi- Dimensional problems of women in Kashmir carried out by famous sociologist of Kashmir Bashir Ahmad Dabla in 1998-99 that 12% of women in Kashmir valley were beaten by their husbands. Another study sponsored by the state women’s commission Jammu and Kashmir carried out by same sociologist in 2003 revealed that 30% women in Kashmir were physically abused by husbands so it is clear that from 1999 to 2003 the rate of domestic violence increases near about 18% which is a matter of concern.
In Kashmir Valley total 255 cases of domestic violence against women were reported, Srinager 255 cases, Bramullah 71 cases, Anantnag 29 cases, Pulwama 17 cases, Ganderbal 12 cases, Kupwara 28 cases, Bandipora 12 cases, Budgam 17 Cases, Shopan 6 cases and 4 cases in Kulgam.
A report on Domestic Violence was published in the Economic Times (22- May- 2015), According to this report Jammu district tops the domestic violence cases in Jammu and Kashmir since 2009. Jammu tops with 1247 cases over 4000 such cases reported from Jammu and Kasmir. As in Jammu region District Jammu tops with 455 cases, Doda 325 cases, Rajori 325cases, Poonch 100 cases,Udampur 98 cases, Kishtwar 60 cases, Kathua 82 cases, Samba 38 cases Ramban 60 cases and Resi 33 cases. In Kashmir Valley total 255 cases of domestic violence against women were reported, Srinager 255 cases, Bramullah 71 cases, Anantnag 29 cases, Pulwama 17 cases, Ganderbal 12 cases, Kupwara 28 cases, Bandipora 12 cases, Budgam 17 Cases, Shopan 6 cases and 4 cases in Kulgam. Ladkh region accounted for very less domestic violence as in the district Leh 1 case was reported and three cases in Kargil district.
How we reduce domestic violence cases:-
• Seminars should be organised by the Govt at every tier of the Panchayat ie at district level, block level and village level to sensitise the women in the state.
• Molalla communities should come forward in order to solve these cases with consensus in the respective areas.
• Religious preachers play a pivotal role in educating the masses regarding the deleterious consequences of domestic violence in the society.
• Education institutions should send their students (as a project work) to the nearby areas in order to educate the women about their rights mentioned in the constitution of state.
• A special female task force should create for the solid protection of women in the state.
• Hiplines should be open for women and strict punishment should be given to the culprits.
• Govt should arrange the Counselling programmes for the women of the State.
• The state women’s commission should be strengthened.
The author is at present pursuing PhD in Political Science
