THE CHALLENGES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN INDIA: NAVIGATING THE INDIAN LEGAL SYSTEM

In India, millions of women are affected by domestic violence, which is a very serious issue. Even though there are other written laws such as the protection of women from domestic violence (PWDVA) act that explains the meaning of domestic violence and tries to find the justice who experienced it. But enforcement of these laws effectively remains a difficult task to tackle. To enforce these laws properly, we have to first find the obstacles that are hindering the process and then we have to implement the strategic approach to overcome them.

• One of the major obstacles in addressing domestic violence is the societal stigma surrounding it. Many individuals, including the victims see domestic violence as their personal/ family matter, which discourages people from seeking legal help. Victims often hesitate to report the abuse because of their family reputation or mainly the normalization of certain abusive behaviors. Overcoming this stigma plays a major role in ensuring that victims feel empowered to ask for help without any fear.
• Another major issue is that people are not aware about their rights and the available resources that can help them. In simple words, there is lack of awareness among victims regarding their legal rights. Many women mainly those who come from very lower background are not aware of the PWDVA and the protection they provide. Financial dependence on the abusers also makes it nearly impossible for the victims to leave that abusive relationship.  Empowering women through education about their rights and by providing them economical support can help to break these barriers.
• Law enforcement and judicial bodies often lack proper training to handle the cases of domestic violence. Some perception that women often misuse domestic violence laws can further discourage the victim from seeking justice. Judicial biases against women results in unfair treatment of victims.
• Proving domestic violence in courts requires evidence which is very difficult to gather as there are often no witnesses of the abuse or the physical proof. The involvement of family involved in domestic violence incidents also makes a victim more hesitant to opt for legal remedies, as it can lead to disruption in their family relationships. Strengthening the evidence gathering process and by providing the support to victims can help to address these challenges.
• The availability of support services including counselling, shelter homes are very limited in many regions making it more challenging for the victims to access the assistance, they need to escape from an abusive relationship. Victims without these resources feel marginalized and trapped in abuse .having more shelter homes would mean that we can assist females on how escape from abusive relationships."

Raising awareness, providing free legal representation to victims, providing support services, and economic empowerment are some key steps for addressing these issues and carrying out a holistic strategy against domestic violence in India.

Conclusion:

The Indian legal system has taken several significant steps aimed at solving the problem of family violence using different legislative acts. Thus, it implies that there are still many problems that must be solved in this respect. Solving the aforementioned issues warrants a holistic perspective. India can move towards establishing a legal system which effectively protects and empowers victims of domestic violence, through addressing these challenges through legal reforms, awareness campaigns, and other support services. If we take these measures, then we would be able to foresee a society in which women are secure, empowered and free from domestic violence.