426 domestic violence cases in 2014: Maneka

About  426 cases were registered under the Protection of Women against Domestic Violence Act, 2005, in 2014, the government said on Thursday. “About 426 cases were registered under the Protection of Women against Domestic Violence Act, 2005, during 2014. It shows that women are taking recourse to law in such cases,” said Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Minister of Women and Child Development, in the Rajya Sabha.

She said: “The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has started collecting data on the Protection of Women against Domestic Violence Act, 2005, using the MHA approved revised proforma of ‘Crime in India’ since 2014.”

She asserted that state governments are responsible for the implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005. The Act empowers a victim to get justice. It identifies specific functionaries such as protection officers and service providers, whose duty is to assist women facing domestic violence. 

She said all states and UTs need to appoint protection officers, register service providers, notify shelter homes and provide medical care. “As on date, all state governments have appointed protection officers,” she said.

“The Central government has been emphasising on the need to impart training to first class judicial magistrates/ metropolitan magistrates through national/ state judicial academies to deal with cases under the Domestic Violence Act,” she added. The minister said workshops, seminars, street plays, Nari ki Chaupals and Beti Janmotshav are being organised at district level to generate awareness on the issue. 

She said the government  also advertises in print and electronic media on issues such  as domestic violence, child sex ratio and child marriage. Platforms such as International Women’s Day and the National Girl Child Day are used to generate awareness on the rights of women.