Protection of Women from Domestic Violence: Implications of State and NGO Partnership Model of Intervention in India

Abstract

____________________ ABSTRACT ___________________________________________________________________ Domestic violence, especially in the Indian context, has by and large been a gender-specific crime inflicted by men on women and perceived as a system of a social classification that regulates access to power and resources. The Constitution of India protects the rights of women through various legal provisions. The Protection of Women (and Children) against Domestic Violence Act, 2005 which India passed in October 2006 is one ‘Special Law’ which primarily aims at providing protection to the wife or female live-in partner, from domestic violence at the hands of the husband or male live-in –partner and/or his relatives. Under the provisions of the Act, as a part of the intervention, the Department of Nagpur City Police, Maharashtra state-initiated Bharosa (means trust) Cell, which is a special model of intervention for violence against women reported to the police. A quantitative study was conducted to understand the prevalence of domestic violence against women and intervention ensuring protection and empowerment of women. The data was analysed from the registered cases from January 2017 to December 2018 at Bharosa Cell. It was found that total cases registered were 4360, out of which 59 per cent were referred through different police stations of the city while 41 per cent cases approached independently. 70 per cent of cases reported were in the age group 18-35 years. Intimate partner violence reported specifically as physical and mental harassment in 60.35 per cent cases. The successful outcome of the intervention yielded in 39 per cent reconciliation, out of 4291 total number of cases closed. This paper focuses on the collaborative and effective intervention model of state and NGO