TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2025
Fear of social stigma hampers reporting of violence against women in rural Nagaland
Majority of the perpetrators of violence against women in Nagaland are alcoholic fathers, husbands/in-laws, intimate partners, or boyfriends, according to the State Hub for Empowerment of Women (SHEW), Mission Shakti, Nagaland
Published on Feb 23, 2025
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- DIMAPUR — Majority of the perpetrators of violence against women in Nagaland are alcoholic fathers, husbands/in-laws, intimate partners, or boyfriends, according to the State Hub for Empowerment of Women (SHEW), Mission Shakti, Nagaland.
- In cases of cybercrime, the perpetrators could be an unknown person too.
- As per data collected by the SHEW from April 2024 to December 2024, a total of 203 cases were received from 11 districts—out of which domestic violence and abandoned/distressed women topped the list with 63 cases each, followed by missing/kidnapping/abduction/runaway with 34 cases reported.
- This was followed by cybercrime with 11 cases reported. Here, abandoned/distressed women refer to victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, or any forms of abuse; women with mental illness, some of whom are deserted by their families; or those who leave their home state and arrive in Nagaland.
- According to the SHEW, the common cause of domestic violence was alcoholism and substance abuse. It also cited the ‘patriarchal mindset to suppress women and children’ as another driving factor for domestic violence.
- In the information provided by SHEW, among all the 11 districts it had harvested data from, Dimapur topped the list with the most reported cases, followed by Kohima and Phek.
- It was observed that the urban regions had more cases reported than the rural areas. It identified the fear of social stigma as the main reason behind the minimal reporting from rural areas.
- “In rural areas, women mostly prefer to go and settle their cases through the customary court system. It may also be because most of the service providers are established in the district headquarters, such as the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), One Stop Centres (OSC), and women police station,” the SHEW opined.
- The same data showed that Nagaland did not report a single case of child labour, child marriage, or dowry harassment.
- Women Helpline 181 received 1,846 calls, out of which 108 were effective calls received. Here too, domestic violence topped the list with 32 cases, followed by cybercrime with 17 cases.
- “The number of cases received through SHEW service centres indicates that violence against women is on the rise. It could be because of the increased awareness about the services available for women,” the SHEW stated.
- Dimapur reported the highest number of violence against women cases, “which is also an indication that many people are aware of the services available and coming forward to avail them, while the newly established districts need to work more on awareness of safety and rights of women,” it noted.
- On the steps taken by the police to improve the reporting and handling of crimes against women, the SHEW team responded that the police department has taken steps, such as establishing women’s police stations. The Emergency Response Support Service (ERSS)-112, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is implemented by the Police department in Nagaland.
- The Women & Child Development (WCD) Control Room, which comprises the 181-WHL and the 1098-Child Helpline, is integrated with the 112-ERSS.
- Emergency calls requiring intervention of medical/health/police/fire or protection from abuse involving violence against women/child marriage/etc., received at the WHL are to be forwarded to the 112-ERSS. Likewise, women-related calls received at the ERSS-112 are to be forwarded to WHL-181, the team explained.
- Breaking the stigma
- The biggest obstacles in ensuring women's safety in the state, according to SHEW, were the deeply rooted patriarchal norms, mindset, and social stigma; lack of awareness of women’s rights in rural areas; limited access to service providers in the rural areas; financial dependence on husbands; and absence of homes/shelters for the mentally challenged.
- As per the information provided by SHEW, the funding and staffing to address crimes against women effectively in the state ‘is an ongoing development.’ It updated that the state-level Women Helpline 181 is set up in the premises of the Mission Shakti office for women facing violence/in distress.
- Currently, One Stop Centres are set up in 11 districts, and efforts are being made to expand the services; also, construction is under process to set up OSCs in four new districts.
- It informed that through the District Hubs for Empowerment of Women (DHEW) and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao schemes, which are being implemented through the district administration and social welfare functionaries in 16 districts, issues related to the safety and security of women and girls are taken on priority.
Nagaland Districts
