Fear of social stigma hampers reporting of violence against
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
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.
