‘Pandemic gives rise to domestic violence cases in Kashmir’
Srinagar: Former chairperson Jammu and Kashmir women’s commission Vasundhra Phatak Masoodi has said that she is getting a lot of calls from women in Kashmir complaining about domestic violence amid Covid-19 lockdown.
Phatak said that she is getting a lot of distress calls from women in Kashmir complaining about domestic violence against them in one way or the other.
She said that as there is lockdown in the valley like other parts of the country and the women have nowhere to go and they also cannot register their complaints anywhere.
“I try to counsel them over phone. What else can I do for now, it helps a little bit as they feel someone is there to listen to them. But this surely indicates a rise in domestic violence cases in Kashmir,” she said.
There have been many new cases of domestic violence against women in Kashmir but during the lockdown it is quite difficult for them to report these cases.
Shaista (name changed), a teacher by profession said, “As I am a teacher and I have to give lectures online and my in-laws think that I am home now and don’t have to do anything else except doing all the household chores alone. But when I tell them that I have other work to do as well they think I am making excuses. It is causing me mental trauma.”
Many women said “As our husbands and children are home all day now, it is difficult for them to do household jobs and manage all other things as well. Our husbands don’t help us with anything instead, if meals or anything is not ready on time, they get angry and start abusing us.”
They further said that they would usually go to their parents place, meet their friends or talk to them over phone to share their pain which help them release some stress. “But now they cannot even talk to anyone and they can’t go anywhere due to the lockdown which has compounded their problems and stress as well.” (KNO)
KV News
