By Mudassir Kuloo, Agence India Press,
Srinagar: Domestic violence is increasing alarmingly in the Kashmir Valley while the studies carried out revealed that more than 40 percent of women in Kashmir are physically or mentally abused by the husbands or by the in-laws.
Observers believe that in most of the cases of domestic violence, the reasons are dowry, interference from in-laws, misunderstandings, giving birth to female babies and it results in a steep rise of the number of domestic violence cases in Kashmir.
They also believe that political turmoil also appeared to have contribute to this menace in the Valley.
A study sponsored by State Women Commission, J&K, and carried out by Valley’s well known Sociologist, Prof. Bashir Ahmad Dabla in 2003 revealed that ’30 percent women in Kashmir were physically abused by husbands.’
While Chairperson, State Women for Commission, J&K, Shamima Firdous and noted Sociologist Prof. Bashir Ahmad Dabla claimed that the figure have reached to over ’40 percent’ based on various studies and is increasing alarmingly.
Studies reveal that domestic violence is a serious human rights threat to women in every society, rich and poor, developed and under-developed, young and old, irrespective of caste, creed, class and educational levels.
Talking to Agence India Press, Shamima Firdous said, State Women Commission J&K receives 1600 – 1700 domestic violence cases every year but majority cases comes from the Kashmir Valley.
There is rise in domestic violence against women in the Kashmir Valley especially in Pulwama, Badgam and Srinagar, while Jammu region witnesses less domestic violence cases than the Kashmir valley, reveals the State Women Commission’s figures.
Sharing her sorrowful tale to Agence India Press, Shahzada (name changed) 33 resides at Badgam, with her nine year old son and five year daughter, said, “My husband often beats me during the late night hours and is always searching for excuses. My son and daughter also feels scare owing to the ill-treatment by my husband does with me. He even threatens me that he would go for re-marriage,”
In another case of domestic violence, “My husband asks me to bring more dowry from my father’s home, who is a class fourth employee and his three daughters are yet to get married. Yesterday, my husband slapped me by asking to bring dowry and even his mother endorses him. I cannot hear properly and the doctor have told me that my ear drum has been damaged,” narrating other women, wishing not to mention her name, while showing the marks her husband left on his face.
Experts said, domestic violence against married women usually start with the demand of dowry by the in-laws , especially by husband, father and mother in-law.There is also an alarming rate of females, who commits suicide because of the harassment they faces by the in-laws.
Recently numbers of suicide cases by women were also reported in Kashmir and the reasons found were domestic violence.
Shamima suggests that dowry system needs to be abolished in the society so as to tackle the domestic violence.”Dowry is one of the main reason for domestic violence. If there is no dowry system, there will be no violence against women,” says Shamima by adding she said, “need is also to make certain amendments in laws for the protection of women.”
About the half-widows in the state, whose husbands have been disappeared from the past 20 year of armed conflict, she said, “I want to tell the half-widows come and approach the state women commission , whatever help will be possible, commission will do.”
She urged government to give some monetary benefit and compensation to these half-widows.
About the Kunan Poshpora tragedy, were security forces allegedly committed molestation to dozens of women in 1991, she said, “Government also needs to give monetary benefit to the molested women of Kunan Poshpora. They should also be rehabilitated.”
Valley’s renowned Psychiatrist Prof. Mushtaq Margoob said , “Most of the psychiatric problems among women in Kashmir are because of domestic violence. The uncertainty among women because of domestic violence many a times even leads to suicide attempts commit by females. The women who faces domestic violence feels psychological anxiety which also impact on their overall health.”