Officers asked to address issue of domestic violence

KOHIMA, AUGUST 31: BEING a Christian dominated State and also bound by our customary traditions and law, Nagas somehow didn’t find it necessary to be in need of the ‘Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005’ though the Act was enacted and brought into force a decade ago.
However, it was learned that many Naga women, both educated and uneducated have been silently suffering the pain of domestic abuse within the confines of their homes. This was made known at the orientation training on Domestic Violence Act 2005 for the District Welfare Officers, Protection Officers and District Programme Officers on August 31 at SIRD, Kohima, organised by the Department of Social Welfare, in collaboration with Nagaland Social Welfare Board and State Resource Centre for Women.
Legal aid counsel cum trainer of Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA), Esther K Aye, said there are lots of domestic violence victims whose cases go unreported mainly either due to the victim’s fear of social stigma, or not aware of her rights and on how to seek help.
Giving a brief introduction and the role of the Social Welfare Department in implementation the Domestic Violence Act, 2005, Director Social Welfare, Merang T Aier said, ‘domestic violence is a silent misery, pain, anguish, suffering, grief, sorrow and tear’ that occurs in all social classes, ethnic groups, cultures and religions.
While stating that there might be incidences of domestic violence prevailing in many families in our Naga society, which usually are not reported, Aier attributed the Naga customary tradition of comprising between the family and society as one of the main factor where the victims are not coming out to report the case and file case against the abuser.
He also explained in detail the duties and responsibilities of the Protection Officers, government, service providers as and when such cases comes up and also the penalty against the protection officer who refuses to discharge his or her duties.
Esther K Aye spoke on Domestic Violence Act, 2005 – legal perspectives: role of the Protection officers and judiciary under DV Act, while State Coordinator, SRCW, Gracy Aye, enlightened the participants on the psycho social perspectives, handling victims of domestic violence and Assistant State Coordinator, SRCW, Juliana Medom on the institutional rehabilitation for victims of domestic violence.
Highlighting on the One Stop Centre and Women Helpline (WHL) 181, Meziwang Zeliang from Women Helpline said Women Helpline (WHL) will be integrated with the One Stop Centre (OSC), situated in of District Hospital Dimapur to provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence both in private and public spaces.
She also informed that the Hepline Centre located in the premises of the Nagaland State Social Welfare Board (NSSWB) office, New Secretariat Complex, Kohima, will be accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to any woman or girl suffering violence or in distress.
WHL 181 is operating in convergence with the Department of telecommunications under Ministry of Communication and Information Technology; Department of Home Affairs/ district/ local police station; Department of Health and family Welfare; State Legal Services Authority/DLSA and Department of Social Welfare.
SRCW Mission Director, Daisy Mezhür, who moderated the programme, has pressed on the need for the educated men and women to change mindset towards the issue of domestic violence. She said many are silently suffering at the mercy of our customary traditions.
The programme concluded with chairperson, NSSWB, Bano Vinito proposing the concluding remarks.