Lok Sabha Question No. 4480 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Marital Discord
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Ravi Kishan Shukla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.4480

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2020

## MARITAL DISCORD

## 4480.  SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of increased incidents of marital conflict across the country;
- (b) if so, the effective steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for the rehabilitation and safety of women rendered destitute after such discord; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) to (d) :The Government has taken various legislative and schematic measures for women to prevent domestic violence including marital discord. These include:

## (A) Legislative Measures:

- (i) Enactment  of  The  Protection  of  Women  from  Domestic  Violence  Act, 2005: The  Protection  of  Women  from  Domestic  Violence  Act,  2005,  which came into effect in October 2006, aims to provide protection and support to any  woman  who  is,  or  has  been,  in  a  domestic  relationship  with  the respondent and who alleges to have been subjected to any act of domestic violence  by  the  respondent.  The  Act  defines  domestic  relationship  as  a relationship between two persons who live or have, at any point of time, lived together  in  a  shared  household,  when  they  are  related  by  consanguinity, marriage, or through a relationship in the nature of marriage, adoption or are family members living together as a joint family and domestic violence as any act,  omission  or  commission  that  causes  injury  to  a  woman's  physical  or mental  health  and  includes  specific  forms  of  violence  such  as  physical, sexual,  verbal,  emotional  and  economic  abuse.  It  seeks  to  provide  relief  to women  in  the  form  of  protection  order,  residence  order,  monetary  relief, custody order and compensation orders. Breach of any protection order is a criminal offence.
- (ii) The  Dowry  Prohibition  Act,  1961: Recognising  the  need  to  address  the social  evil  of  dowry,  the  Dowry  Prohibition  Act  was  enacted  on  20 th May, 1961. The  Act defines  dowry  and  penalises  giving,  taking  or  abetting  the giving and taking, demanding dowry. It also lays down a built-in implementation  mechanism  in  the  form  of  Dowry  Prohibition  Officers  to ensure effective and efficacious enforcement of the law.
- (iii) The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC): Under Chapter XX of IPC, Section 493498A defines offences related to marriage.

## (B) Schematic Measures:

- (i) One  Stop  Centre  (OSC): One  Stop  Centre  (OSC)  scheme  is  being implemented  across  the  country  since  1st  April  2015  which  is  exclusively designed  to  provide  integrated  services  such  as  medical  support,  police facilitation, legal counselling, psycho-social counselling and temporary shelter to women affected by violence under one roof. So far 728 OSCs have been approved by Government of India out of which 680 OSCs are operational in the country.
- (ii) Universalisation of Women Helpline (WHL): This Ministry also provides 24hours  toll-free  telecom  service  through  short  code  181  to  women  seeking support  and  information  through  its  Universalisation  of  Women  Helpline scheme. As of now, WHL is functional in 32 States/UTs.
- (iii) Swadhar Greh: The Ministry of  Women  and Child Development is implementing  the  Swadhar  Greh  Scheme  which  targets  women  victims  of unfortunate  circumstances  who  are  in  need  of  institutional  support  for rehabilitation  so  that  they  could  lead  their  life  with  dignity.  The  Scheme envisages providing shelter, food, clothing, and health as well as economic and social security for women in difficult circumstances which include women victims of domestic violence, family tension or discord, who are made to leave their homes without any means of subsistence and have no special protection from exploitation and/ or facing litigation on account of marital disputes.

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