Swatantra Awaz Welfare Organization, a non-government organisation, has demanded amendments in Domestic Violence Act. The NGO along with All-India Rational Activists will organise a protest dharna in Chandigarh on October 25, on the anniversary of inception of Domestic Violence Act.

Disclosing this here today, Amandeep Singh, president of Swatantra Awaz Welfare Organisation, said, “Due to lack of social support and legal protection, many male victims of domestic abuse are taking their lives everyday. False cases are severely hampering personal and professional lives of the most productive section of the Indian population. The so-called “women protection” laws are in fact causing more harm than good to women. In every false case, at least two women, a mother-in-law and a sister-in-law are accused. Minor girls, pregnant women, married and unmarried sisters, ailing mothers and even aged grandmothers have been sent behind the bars based on mere allegations and subjected to long-drawn trials before being declared innocent. Even children are not being spared from the suffering. In case of marital disputes, children are denied access to their fathers, causing great pain to the fathers and children.”

He said that unreasonable and easily misused laws like IPC 498-A and DV Act are creating a situation of fear and mutual distrust, and adversely affecting inter-personal relationships between men and women in the society. There is fear psychosis among men, who find it difficult to repose faith in women or marriage.

Atul Verma, the general secretary of the NGO said, “Nearly twice as many married men committed suicide compared to females in the years 2007 and 2008. Nearly twice as many men separated from their wives committed suicide compared to separated women in both the years.”

... contd.