Domestic Violence in India: A Decadal Shift in State-Society Paradigms

Abstract

In India, domestic violence is seen as a private family matter, and handled as a social responsibility. The discourse on domestic violence has steadily moved into the legal/institutional domain from private family affairs through the passage of time and enforcement of criminal and civil laws.While women-centric laws and institutional framework for justice are on the rise, cultural lag creates a dilemma. Despite the Domestic Violence Act implemented in 2006, the widespread phenomenon of domestic violence across Indian states goes unreported. It is the most common cause of non-fatal injury to women, who suffer, blame themselves, and choose not to report it. The conflict will exist until structural relations and the patriarchal nature of the society are redefined. The objective of the chapter is to enable readers with an understanding ofthe complex phenomenon, by contextualizing the issues revolving around society and state. Initial section of the chapter provides an overview based on review of important literature on problems regarding society, legislature, and policy initiatives on domestic violence in India. Further, it elaborates upon the introduction of the concept of Family Counselling Centres, a radical change in regulatory institutional mechanisms. Finally, it concludes with recommendation of a collaborative framework with multipronged approach that engages non-governmental organizations, police, judiciary, healthcare systems and community.