Lockdown effect: Domestic abuse cases rise

NEW DELHI: Domestic violence cases in India have increased since the March 24 lockdown with husbands venting their frustration on wives, who have no escape from their abusers, say experts.

India has been under a threeweek lockdown since March 24 with i t s 1 . 3 bi l l i on people instructed to stay home in view of the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 32 lives and infected over 1,200 people in the country.

The National Commission for Women (NCW), for instance, received 58 complaints from March 23 to March 30, according to data accessed by PTI.

Many of these complaints have come from north India, particularly Punjab, said NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma.

“The number has increased. Men are frustrated sitting at home and are taking out that frustration on women. This trend is especially seen in Punjab from where we have received many such complaints,” Sharma told PTI.

The exact figures from the state were not immediately available.

“The 58 is just complaints we have received on email. The real figure is likely to be more since the bulk of complaints come from women in the lower strata of society who send us their complaints by post,” she explained.

Among those who reached out to the NCW was a father asking for help for his daughter who he alleged is being brutally beaten by her husband at their home in Sikar, Rajasthan.

When contacted by PTI, the father said on the condition of anonymity that his son-in-law is a teacher.his daughter hasn’t been given food since the lockdown came into effect, the father alleged.