Domestic violence victims struggle to contact officials

HYDERABAD: While the National Commission for Women (NCW) has tried to reassure women facing domestic violence that all is not lost, experts and women’s groups said such women are finding it difficult to get help amidst lockdown.
NCW even posted its chairperson and members’ email addresses urging women to reach out for help. In a bid to highlight the aggrieved women’s plight, NCW recently made a post on its Facebook page saying, “Women are facing the brunt of this upheaval in the wake of #COVID19outbreak.There’s an increasing number of domestic violence complaint and worse it is difficult for women to access institutional support at times like these (sic).”

However, experts said women facing domestic violence were at the receiving end and added that the possibility of all such cases being reported look bleak. Shaheen, a city-based NGO, said distress calls came down to five a day from 20 calls a day previously. “Recently, a woman called and said her husband drinks at home and beats her up. She can’t go out and seek help,” Jameela Nishat, founder-director of Shaheen, said. Nishat also explained that many women do not have access to phone or internet to seek help. Echoing similar feelings, Tripurana Venkataratnam, advisor in National Women’s Commission and former chairperson of State Women’s Commission, said domestic violence victims are more vulnerable during the lockdown period.
TSWC officials said only a couple of women had called seeking help. “The women who faced abuse from in-laws and husbands are vulnerable and become an easy target during the lockdown,” said an official.
Meanwhile, counsellors said domestic violence cases are mainly related to men’s alcohol addiction. With liquor shops closed during the lockdown, there is a good possibility that withdrawal symptoms could lead to a spurt in domestic violence. “SHE Teams and Bharosa Centre are functioning. Women should not try to suppress their agony if they undergo domestic violence at the hands of their husbands or in-laws. Even the society and neighbours should be vigilant,” said Kanika Durga, a former counsellor with Bharosa Centre, Hyderabad.