Spl Officer Soon For Atrocities Against Women
A Special Officer of the State Women’s Commission will be appointed soon in each district to look into complaints of atrocities against women, Commission chairperson K.M. Ramathal said here on Friday. At present, the District Social Welfare Officer had the additional duty of investigating complaints lodged with the Commission, Ms. Ramathal told presspersons after a review meeting with the district administration and police officials. District Collector V. Palanikumar took part in the meeting.
The Commission was trying to clear a backlog of complaints. Of the 4,300 received from 2004, 1,800 cases had been disposed of.
The Commission received 1,200 complaints in 2007 and 600 from January to April this year. The Commission had also cleared 60 of the cases it had received this year. The Commission has taken a serious note of the unhealthy sex ratio in Salem and Dharmapuri districts, Ms. Ramathal said. “It is 857 women per 1,000 men in Salem and 858 women per 1,000 men in Dharmapuri. This indicates to a very dangerous trend.”
The Commission had suggested seminars to sensitise people in districts on female foeticide and infanticide. On violence against girl students in schools, Ms. Ramathal said a series of training programmes would be held for teachers on how to deal with students. The first one would begin in Coimbatore on June 1. Ms. Ramathal warned against non-registration of marriages, saying it robbed the woman of any legal cover.
A number of cases brought before the commission related to secret weddings. Such a wedding mostly involved a man from an upper caste marrying a girl from a lower caste. As the marriage was not registered, the woman landed in trouble when the man deserted her. The Chairperson pointed out that marriage registration would become compulsory from June 13. The introduction of the Domestic Violence Act had led to 450 new cases being brought before the Commission.
“The Act offers complete protection to women and it is not against men. It, however, has to be used judiciously. If not, it can do great damage to both sides,” Ms. Ramathal said. On false complaints, such as dowry harassment, she said the Commission called for a thorough investigation. As per law, the police had to receive the complaint and register it. When charges of false complaints arose, the Commission order a thorough probe. “We recommend strong action those making false complaints. They should also learn a lesson,” she said.
