Early Times Report
Srinagar, July 1: The minister of social welfare minister, Sajjad Gani Lone believes that the women of Jammu Kashmir are well protected by laws and , therefore, need no training in self defence.
Lone made this statement while responding to a query of MLA Anjum Fazili earlier this week. The minister said that the government had four legislations to protect honour and dignity of women.
Pertinently the state has the J&K Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2010, J&K State Commission for Women Act, 1999, The Sexual Harassment of Women at work place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act 2013), and Scheme for Relief and Rehabilitation of Victims of Rape 2005.
However, notwithstanding these legislations, the crimes against women have registered an alarming increase. The figures during the past two years negate the minister's statement. In 2014 and 2015, 3329 and 3355 cases were registered respectively.
The most common crime is molestation. 1342 cases have been reported in 2015. The number was 1411 in 2014 and 1389 in 2013.
Kidnapping has been the other crime that has been giving parents sleepless nights across the state. 1097 cases were registered in 2015, 826 in 2014 and 956 in 2013.
Six deaths due to domestic violence have been reported in 2015. The number was four in 2014 and seven in 2013.
The situation is grim and the minister is trying to paint a rosy picture of it, said a human rights defender. According to him, laws alone cannot protect the rights of women. "we need a strong machinery to enforce the rights," he said. |
