The unsettling news of domestic violence that has taken place in Pasighat has once again caught media attention of the state. Common people have vented their anger and demanded exemplary punishment against the lawbreaker. This is nothing new and not an exclusive phenomenon of Arunachal Pradesh as no part of the country is immune from it. It’s endemic and hits hard the conscience of any civilized human being.

Violence against women is an age-old feature and now a global concern. In India, one of the most common form of violence against women is what is known as domestic violence,  affecting millions from all socio-economic and educational classes, cutting across cultures and religions. It is really acute and the consequences which encompass the aspects of economic, social and health parameters are far reaching, affecting not only the victim and her children immediately but also society in the larger context. Recent data indicates that over 30% of Indian women have been subjected to domestic violence meted out by their husbands and his relatives at some point in their lives. The reasons are many but the foremost seem to be the perennial patriarchal structure of society which had always encouraged gender inequality and the enormous patience and tolerance an Indian woman cultivates against her husband’s atrocities.

But it is not that the country has any lack of provisions of law to curb this burning problem. We have the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, which declares both giving and accepting dowry as punishable offences. In 1983, Sections 304B and 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were enacted to make it easier for an Indian wife to seek redressal for harassment by the husband and his family. Section 498A of the IPC, popularly known as the anti-dowry law which often catches media attention, is very stringent and also allows immediate arrest and jailing of a woman’s spouse and her in-laws in the case of harassment or cruelty. The offence of cruelty under this section is non-compoundable meaning that it cannot be withdrawn by the petitioner and is also non-bailable.

And in spite of all these, it is sometimes baffling for the social science researchers to understand as to why there is not that desired result in ending domestic violence. And the aspect which comes to light and is disturbing too is the apathy for reporting either to police or to the Women   Helplines, mostly out of fear or social stigma. But this is perhaps the first step towards ending the menace, with actions of law enforcing agencies, Women Commissions, NGOs to follow subsequently.

If domestic violence is a concern which is showing stamina for continuance, crusade against it must also be equal to the task.