Do you know amidst the coronavirus outbreak, there has been a rise in the number of domestic violence cases in the country? So, the nation is not just fighting the coronavirus pandemic but domestic violence too. There has been a rise in the number of cases between March 23 and April 16.
WhatsApp Helpline Number
The National Commission for women has launched a Whatsapp helpline number - 7217735372 too. If not at online complaint links or emails, victim of domestic violence can reach through WhatsApp. Uttar Pradesh and Kerala governments have also launched dedicated helplines for victims. Between 24 March till 1 April, 69 out of 257 complaints have been around domestic violence.
Overall, there are more than 50 helplines that have been started all across the country to help women who are facing domestic violence during the lockdown. A home ministry official said, "Fifty-two helplines have been started in different parts of the country to help women facing domestic violence during the lockdown."
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These helplines are been run by police, NGOs, and women welfare departments. Many of these helplines have been operational for long and many of these specific to state and others have been introduced for the safety of women during the lockdown.
Delhi High Court To Hear Plea
The number of domestic violence cases in the country is increasing and advocates Mithu Jain, Arjun Syal, and Vidisha Kumar have filed a plea on the increases in the cases after the coronavirus lockdown. This will help women and children suffering from domestic violence across the country.
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Justices J R Midha and Jyoti Singh issued a notice to the ministries of Women and Child Development, Delhi government and the women commissions in Delhi to seek their stand on the petition by an NGO. The detailed order is not yet out on the high court website.
Dr. Bharti Sharma, secretary, and counsellor of NGO Shakti Shalini said, "To avoid getting caught, many times the victim sends a text message on WhatsApp or calls from the washroom. We were receiving one-two calls a day when the lockdown started. Now we receive four-five calls in a day. The calls are very desperate calls. The women are not just abused physically, but also emotionally and mentally," Sharma told news agency ANI.
She further shared, "Before the lockdown, victims would come to us or call us when their husband was not at home. But during the lockdown, the husband is 24x7 at home and if the house is small it becomes difficult for the victim to call us."
Bollywood Actors And Indian Cricketers Appeal With A Video On Social Media
A video is doing rounds on social media. Bollywood actors and Indian cricketers have come together to request victims, survivors or witnesses of domestic violence to report it. The video features, Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan, Anushka Sharma, Karan Johar, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rahul Bose, Dia Mirza. They ask the women to break the silence and stand up against violence.
The entire nation is under lockdown for almost a month now due to the coronavirus outbreak but that's not the only issue the country is facing. We hope there is soon a lockdown on domestic violence too.
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