Supreme Court Advocates Avani Bansal and Sourjya Das have written a letter to Cabinet Minister Mrs. Smriti Irani, Ministry of Women and Child Development and to Mrs Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women suggesting urgent measures to help the victims of Domestic Violence during lockdown and for publication of domestic violence helpline in all newspapers and relevant government website.
It has been claimed that Pandemics similar to periods of economic instability, civil unrest and disasters lead to increase in violence against women and children, not only in India, but across the world.
The letter referred to a tweet by Secretary-General of United Nations “Peace is not just the absence of war. Many women under lockdown for #COVID19 face violence where they should be safest: in their own homes.”
“…we urge you to take the required steps in an urgent manner to ensure that women in India do not go remedy-less, especially as we gear up for the second phase of the lockdown.” Says the letter while praising the steps taken by National Commission for Women by launching a WhatsApp Alert no. +91 7217735372 for domestic violence victims.
Whereas, the letter also says, most women in India might not be aware of existence of the National Commission for Women. Through this letter they are also trying to bring into notice of the government that most of the women in India might not have access to WhatsApp or Internet hence, a 24*7 phone helpline may be launched.
Letter also suggested that the Government of India needs to have a massive awareness drive, by publishing the phone helpline number, issued by it, and the whatsapp alert number issued by National Commission of Women in all major newspapers of India, distributing leaflets of the notice, advertising across various TV news and other channels across India and start an SMS Alert service.
They also referred to the steps taken by other countries regarding the issue, such as providing government sponsored shelter for victims of domestic violence during the period of Lockdown, on the footsteps of French Government. Suggestion has also been made for popularizing use of code words at places such as pharmacy stores, as used by the Spanish and French Government using the code-word ‘Mask-19’.
Adv, Avani Bansal and Sourjay Das have also assured that they will be happy to assist the Government if it is needed in this regards.