40% women victim of domestic voilence in Kashmir:Survey Submitted by admin3 on 29 December 2011 - 5:47pm Indian MuslimWomen By Mudassir Kuloo,Agence

India Press, Srinagar: Domestic violence is increasing alarmingly in the Kashmir Valley while the studies carried out revealed that more than 40 percent of Kashmiri women ar e physically or mentally abused by the husbands or by the in-laws. Observers believe that in most of the cases of domestic violence, the reasons ar e dowry, interference from in-laws, misunderstandings, giving birth to female ba bies and it results in a steep rise of the number of domestic violence cases in Kashmir. They also believe that political turmoil also appeared to have contributed to th is menace in the Valley. A study sponsored by State Women Commission, J&K, and carried out by Valley s well k nown Sociologist, Prof. Bashir Ahmad Dabla in 2003 revealed that '30 percent wom en in Kashmir were physically abused by husbands.' While Chairperson, State Women for Commission, J&K, Shamima Firdous and noted So ciologist Prof. Bashir Ahmad Dabla claimed that the figure have reached to over '40 percent' based on various studies and is increasing alarmingly. Studies reveal that domestic violence is a serious human rights threat to women in every society, rich and poor, developed and under-developed, young and old, i rrespective of caste, creed, class and educational levels. Talking to Agence India Press, Shamima Firdous said, State Women Commission J&K receives 1600 - 1700 domestic violence cases every year but majority cases come from the Kashmir Valley. There is rise in domestic violence against women in the Kashmir Valley especiall y in Pulwama, Badgam and Srinagar, while Jammu region witnesses less domestic vi olence cases than the Kashmir valley, reveals the State Women Commission's figur es. Sharing her sorrowful tale to Agence India Press, Shahzada (name changed) 33 res ides at Badgam, with her nine year old son and five year daughter, said, "My hus band often beats me during the late night hours and is always searching for excu ses. My son and daughter also feels scare owing to the ill-treatment by my husba nd does with me. He even threatens me that he would go for re-marriage," In another case of domestic violence, My husband asks me to bring more dowry from m y father's home, who is a class fourth employee and his three daughters are yet to get married. Yesterday, my husband slapped me by asking to bring dowry and ev en his mother endorses him. I cannot hear properly and the doctor have told me t hat my ear drum has been damaged," narrating other women, wishing not to mention her name, while showing the marks her husband left on his face. Experts said, domestic violence against married women usually start with the dem and of dowry by the in-laws, especially by husband, father and mother in-law. There is also an alarming rate of females, who commits suicide because of the ha rassment they faces by the in-laws. Recently numbers of suicide cases by women were also reported in Kashmir and the reasons found were domestic violence. Shamima suggests that dowry system needs to be abolished in the society so as to

tackle the domestic violence. "Dowry is one of the main reasons for domestic vi olence. If there is no dowry system, there will be no violence against women," s ays Shamima by adding she said, "need is also to make certain amendments in laws for the protection of women." About the half-widows in the state, whose husbands have been disappeared from th e past 20 year of armed conflict, she said, "I want to tell the half-widows come and approach the state women commission, whatever help will be possible, commis sion will do." She urged government to give some monetary benefit and compensation to these hal f-widows. About the Kunan Poshpora tragedy, where security forces allegedly committed mole station to dozens of women in 1991, she said, "Government also needs to give mon etary benefit to the molested women of Kunan Poshpora. They should also be rehab ilitated." Valley s renowned Psychiatrist Prof. Mushtaq Margoob said, "Most of the psychiatric problems among women in Kashmir are because of domestic violence. The uncertainty among women because of domestic violence many a times even leads to suicide attempts commit by females. The women who face domestic violence fee ls psychological anxiety which also impact on their overall health."