Lok Sabha Question No. 2691 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-04
Subject: Domestic Violence
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2691

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2023

## DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

## 2691.  SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken for the abolition of dowry and prevention of domestic violence in the last three years, State-wise;
- (b) the efforts in addition to the present laws taken by the Government at the social level to eradicate dowry and domestic violence;
- (c) whether the units of local administration, Panchayats etc have been included in this;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to utilize visual and audio medium including Doordarshan  to  create  awareness  and  encourage  public  participation  in eradication of these social evils, if so, the details and plan/programme of the Government in this regard; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (f):  'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibility to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including investigation and prosecution of crime against women and children including the cases of domestic violence, rests primarily with the respective State Governments and they are competent to deal with it. Further, the Dowry  Prohibition  Act,  1961  and  the  Indian  Penal  Code  (IPC)  have  adequate provisions  to  tackle  the  menace.  The  Dowry  Prohibition  Act,  1961  prohibits  and penalizes  giving  or  taking  of  dowry  so  as  to  safeguard  women  against  dowry harassment.

As per Section-9 of 'the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA), it is duty of the Protection Officer to report the cases of domestic violence to  the  Magistrate  upon  receipt  of  complaints  and  to  assist  the  Magistrate  in  the discharge of his functions. However, conviction of a person comes under purview of the Judiciary, who decides the matter after careful consideration of factual positions and all related aspects as per the provisions of the PWDVA.  The PWDVA defines dowry harassment within the purview of domestic violence and provides remedies such as protection order, residence order etc. against it.

The implementation of 'the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005'  and 'the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961', comes under purview of the respective State Government/ UT Administration. Nevertheless, the Central Government gives highest priority to ensuring safety and security of women and is implementing "Mission Shakti" an umbrella scheme  for safety, security and empowerment of women. The  Scheme include  components of 'One Stop Centers (OSCs)' under which integrated services such as Medical Aid, Psycho-social Counselling,  Police  Facilitation,  Legal  Aid  and  Counselling  and  Temporary  Shelter upto 5 days are provided under one roof and Universalisation of Women Helplines (WHL) which provide emergency and non-emergency services to women in need by connecting  them  with  appropriate  authorities.   Besides,  Emergency  Response Support System (ERSS), which is a pan-India single number (112)/ mobile app based system for  emergencies  is  also  available  to  women  in  distress.  In  addition,  under Nirbhaya Fund, the Central Government has provided assistance to States/ UTs for setting up/ strengthening Women Help Desks (WHDs) in all police stations.  So far, 13557 Women Help Desks have been established.

Under Nirbhaya Fund, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) has  also  undertaken  several  initiatives,  which,  inter-alia  includes  training  and  skill development programs for Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers.  BPR&D  has  also  prepared  Standard  Operating  Procedures  (SoPs)  for 'Women Help Desk at Police Stations' to ensure smooth functioning of Women Help Desks.  Emphasis has been laid upon appropriate behavioural and attitudinal skills of the police in course of prevention and detection of crime against women and children and  interaction  with  victims  of  crime.  Webinars  on  women  safety  with  sensitivity, gender sensitization of police personnel etc. have also been organized by BPR&D.

Under the "Samarthya" sub-scheme of umbrella Scheme Mission Shakti ,  a new component i.e. Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) has been included with the aim to facilitate inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women at the Central, State/ UT and District levels for creating an environment in which  women  are  able  to  realize  their  full  potential.  The  support  under  the  HEW provides  for  guiding,  linking  and  hand  holding  women  to  various  institutional  and schematic  set  ups  for  their  empowerment  and  development  including  access  to healthcare,  quality  education,  career  and  vocational  counseling/  training,  financial inclusion,  entrepreneurship,  backward  and  forward  linkages,  health  and  safety  for workers, social security and digital literacy at districts/ Blocks/ Gram Panchayats level across the country.

Further, the Government, through institutions like the National Commission for Women (NCW), National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and their  counterparts  in  States  have  been  spreading  awareness  through  seminars, workshops, audio- visual, print and electronic media etc. to sensitize the people about the safety and security of women and children and also about various provisions of the legislation etc. In addition, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Home Affairs have issued advisories to States/ UTs from time to time on various issues pertaining to safety and security of women and children.

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