The Observer An IIJNM publication
In Russell Market, dumping of animal waste raises a stink | P 2
Vol 19, Issue 1
Aarthi N Bengaluru: Thousands of twowheeler riders in the city use lowquality helmets to escape being penalized by traffic police. These helmets, priced between Rs 100 and Rs 150, do not have the ISI mark. “Motorcyclists wear helmets... to escape from police and not pay fine if caught. Police and the transport department should raid shops that sell poor-quality helmets. Sixty per cent of head injuries (caused) during accidents are because of not wearing helmets or not wearing quality helmets,” Prof. M.N. Sreehari, an adviser to the Karnataka government on traffic, transportation and infrastructure, informed The Observer. According to Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, every person, rider and the pillion rider on a motorcycle should wear protective headgear certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Most helmets worn by motorcyclists in the city are unsafe because they do not protect the head. The price of a quality helmet, with the ISI mark, ranges between Rs 650 and Rs 2000. Helmets sold at various places across the city do not mention mass and size, and have no ISI mark. IS 4151 :2015, a new BIS standard, is mandatory for helmets since January 2019. A helmet should bear, apart from the ISI mark, information about its manufacturer, mass and size. The Observer found duplicate helmets of popular brands like Windsor, Wrangler and Safari being sold at Koramangala, Shivajinagar, and on pavements across the city. Low-quality helmets are light, and made from thin metal or hard plastic. They cover only the upper half of the head. No extra padding is provided on the inner side. The strap is of poor quality and does not provide safety in
GO FOR QUALITY, PROTECT YOUR HEAD • Police and experts advocate wearing quality helmets • These are priced between Rs 750 and Rs 2,000 • A helmet should bear the ISI mark and information about its manufacturer, mass and size Everything begins at home. Parents should ask their children to wear protective helmets. If they don’t, they should not give them vehicles. – M.N. Sreehari, traffic expert case of accidents. Most pillion riders use these helmets. Sreehari noted: “The pillion rider is more at risk as he or she does not know what is happening while the vehicle is moving. So the pillion rider should also avoid wearing this low-quality helmet as it is unsafe.” Helmet sellers agree the lowpriced helmets are unsafe. “A helmet which covers the head of a person fully is safe to use. They cost around Rs 750. The ones priced at Rs 120-Rs 150 are unsafe,” said Syed Ameen, a helmet shop owner near Russell Market. Many motorcyclists concede they wear these helmets to escape paying fines. “These helmets are cheap and we wear them because it is compulsory. Police do not stop us if we wear this helmet; but if we do not wear a helmet, we have to pay a fine,” Srinivasa R, a vegetable seller at Russell Market, said. Thimmarayappa C.M., a constable at the Shivajinagar police station, said: “From January 2019 to July 31, 2019, 5,790 cases have been filed in the city against motorists for not wearing helmets. Motorcyclists have to pay a fine of Rs 100 if they are caught not wearing helmets.” He also said that an awareness programme was conducted on “safety
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Illegal parking chokes lane near Mysuru Metro Metro station | P 3
Cheap helmets provide little protection to riders Cover only top of head, worn to escape fines
Thursday, August 29, 2019
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of wearing helmets” last month in the city to inform people about the importance of wearing a safe helmet. Most delivery persons in the city use low-quality, unsafe helmets. When The Observer asked them about it, almost everyone had the same answer: “We wear helmets because they are compulsory. If we do not wear helmets, we will be fined. Until the government implements a rule saying that these helmets should not be worn, we will wear them.” In 2018, the ISI helmet rule was withdrawn in Karnataka on the ground that traffic police cannot identify the quality of a helmet on visual examination. Sreehari proposed a solution to this: Motorcyle companies should provide helmets when the vehicle is sold. Also, people should know the importance of wearing a protective helmet. “Everything begins at home. Parents should ask their children to wear protective helmets. If they don’t, they should not give them vehicles.” In a press release on August 5, the Two Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers’ Association requested for stricter enforcement of helmet laws in the country and warned its members that sales of non-ISI helmets will be a criminal offence, inviting arrest without warrant, a two-year jail term and a fine. aarthi.n@iijnm.org
News Briefs National •The Supreme Court has sought the response between Center and Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday. Two decisions were taken while challenging the constitutional validity – scrapping the state’s special status under Article 370 and law splitting into Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. •The Union Housing and Urban affairs Ministry increases the weight of baggages in Metro from 15 kg to 25 kg and for dedicated metro trains to airports, the ministry has also allowed one bag weighing up to 32 kg for per person. •The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval of Rs 24,375 crore for 75 additional government medical colleges by 2021-22. And this will increase at least 15,700 MBBS seats in India. Karnataka • After Congress leader Siddaramaiah threatened to launch a statewide protest, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said that his government has no plans to shut down or rename Indira Canteens, a project introduced in 2017 by Siddaramaiah, the then chief minister of the state. • BBMP new commissioner B.H. Anil Kumar, said that BBMP Advertisement Rules of 2019, drafted by the Urban Development Department and the BBMP Outdoor Signage and Public Messaging By-laws of 2018 were mutually exclusive. He also said that big hoardings are a danger to life and property. •Laxman S.Savadi, Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister announced that state-run operations would operate special and additional buses to different destinations in and outside the state during the Ganesha festival on Monday. International •British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the adjournment of parliament before Britain’s European Union (EU) exit date which infuriated the anti-Brexit MPs. Queen Elizabeth II validated the request to suspend the parliament reducing the time for MPs to pass laws to prevent a no-deal Brexit. •UK PM Boris Johnson announced the suspension of Parliament in the final week before Britain’s EU departure date, after the request approved by Queen Elizabeth II. •China will hold a massive military parade showcasing some of its most advanced weaponry to cele-
brate the 70th Anniversary of the communist state. Cai Zhijun, a member of the Chinese army said that the size of the military parade is not a sign of aggression and they are safeguarding world peace and regional stability. Business •Central Government announces Rs 6268 crore subsidies for exporting 60 Lakh tonnes sugarcane from India. This move will help in offload the rising inventory of sugar and will help the sugar mills to clear sugar cane arrears to farmers. •Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), India’s largest refinery plans to invest Rs 2 lakh Crore in the next 5-7 years to expand its refining, marketing, petrochemical and natural gas business. They are also planning to invest over Rs 20,000 crore for expansion of its Petrochemicals project till 202324. Sports •M S Dhoni will not be a part of the Indian team for the T20Is against West Indies, according to sources. The selection for team India for the T20I match against South Africa will be conducted on the first week of September. •Virat Kohli on the verge of becoming India’s most successful Test captain. He has equalled MS Dhoni’s record of 27 wins after his 338 run victory in Antigua. India will take on West Indies in 2nd Test in Jamaica from Friday. •On the occasion of Major Dhyan Chand’s birth anniversary, PM Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju paid tributes to the legendry hockey player. Rijiju said PM Modi’s Fit India Movement will help India become a sporting powerhouse. Technology •The Outlook for iOS app will offer native support for a dark mode once Apple iOS 13 is shipped. A dark mode can help users reduce eye strain, help increase battery life, or simply make their workstation look better. Entertainment •Ranu Mandol, the recent viral singing sensation has recorded the song ‘teri meri kahani’ for Himesh Reshammiya’s next film Happy Hardy and Heer. •Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana joins NY University.
CITY
2
The Observer Thursday, August 29, 2019
In Russell Market, dumping of animal waste raises a stink
BBMP clears it every day, say shop owners
DIFFERENT TAKES Beef shop owners: There’s not much waste; it’s cleared by the BBMP regularly
Adilin Beatrice C
S
hop owners in the Beef Market in Shivajinagar dump animal waste in Russell Market’s backyard, causing a stinky situation. Complaints to the BBMP have led to no resolution, visitors and others say. “The Beef Market shop owners slaughter animals in their houses nearby and dump the waste in the backyard of Russell Market during night…. Everyone is aware of it but not willing to comment,” P. Manohar, who has run a fish shop in the market for the past 35 years, informed The Observer. The designated slaughterhouse is located on Tannery Road. Only half of the bovines are slaughtered there. Kumar, who has bought meat from Russell Market for the past 40 years, said the stink is getting worse. “The market is maintained poorly. Garbage is always accumulated on the road, so people refuse to pass through it because of the stink.”
Twitterati talk @BlankNoise #WalkTowardsHealing . Walk carrying testimonials; clothes worn when you experienced sexual violence. Walk in Memory. Truth. Solidarity. #INeverAskForIt Saturday 31st August 5-7pm #Bangalore #Walk To #EndVictimBlame RSVP actionhero@blanknoise.org @iihsin Oota Aytha? - an unwavering greeting, question & conversation starter in #Bangalore, where #IIHSin & the Hungry Cities Project, conducted interviews with street food vendors to understand their lives, space-networks within which they work & how food shapes their livelihoods. @BSYBJP Flagged off the celebrations for the “National Sports Day” at Vidhan Soudha with a lively game of hockey. This day marks the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand, The Legendary Hockey Player.
Others at the market: Animals are slaughtered in the neighbourhood
The market is maintained poorly. Garbage is always accumulated on the road, so people refuse to pass through it it. | Credit: Adilin Beatrice C When The Observer ap- don’t have any animal waste left proached the owner of the oldest to be cleared.” beef shop in the market, he reBut the civic body says the beef fused to comment. shop owners are at fault. Another beef shop owner, N “The beef market shop owners Niyamath, who inherited his fa- look for shortcuts. Slaughterther’s business, said: “We don’t houses are allotted to them, but have much waste in the shop. We they don’t use them. We have releave the waste on the roadside quested the senior health inspecand a BBMP vehicle clears it tor and the medical officer to every day.” check arrangements for waste A shopkeeper from the Beef dumping in the market,” M. Market who did not want to be Lokesh BBMP executive engineer named shared: “We don’t slaugh- for East Zone, said. ter cows here. The slaughtering is Marshals will be appointed done on Tannery Road. So we from September 1 to look for ille-
BBMP officer: Beef shop owners don’t use the designated slaughterhouses; there is one on Tannery Road gal dumping of garbage. The licences of shop owners dumping waste can be cancelled, he added. Russell Market is one of the oldest markets in Bengaluru. It was built in 1927 by the British and inaugurated in 1933 by Ismail Sait, a banker and businessman who served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council. The market was devastated in a fire on February 26, 2012. The loss was estimated at Rs 1.2 crore. adilin.b@iijnm.org
Citizen’s voice Concern about rising cases of dengue The spread of diseases like dengue in HSR Layout is making people suffer. It is because of stagnant waterdue to rain. Seeing the situation of the people in locality, government should make good roads so that the water doesn’t get collected which will eventually reduce the risk of dengue. Abhinav Kumar
Article 370 Article 370 has been abrogated but still we don’t know what’s happening in Jammu and Kashmir. We only hear about how the government has detained politicians. It’s really a worrisome fact that even after removing the special status in the state, people are still living as prisoners. Astha Oriel
Unity & inclusiveness As a concerned citizen, I feel that the bigotry and hatred should not be entertained in any public platform. For the past two years, we have seen that the narrative has been set in a way that either you are a pro or against something. This further creates a divide amongst the citizens and creates a conflict among different groups and community. Therefore, we need more public campaign regarding unity and inclusiveness. Shakeb Zuber
Footpath construction delayed, pedestrians in pain BBMP: It will be finished in 1.5 months Ankita Mukherjee
T
he footpath of the CV Raman Road leading towards Malleswaram is under construction for over a year now, causing inconvenience to pedestrians. “The footpath is under construction for over a year. I don’t know whether the reason is the laying of a water pipeline,” Puja, a resident of the area and owner of Sri Balaji Stores, informed The Observer. “It is difficult to walk on the footpath during rush hours,” she added. Pedestrians face difficulty as the construction is being done in front of their houses. During monsoon, the situation gets worse. No accidents have happened so far, but people have tripped over the ill maintained footpath many times. According to a report in Bangalore Citizen, whitetopping of roads in adjacent Sadashivanagar, initiated by the BBMP in 2016, was completed two years ago. The BBMP is now constructing the footpath. It has completed work on the KV Hebbal side of
BBMP executive engineer Fatah Mohammad said work on the footpath began in October 2018, and needs time to be completed. the entire road cannot be blocked to complete the work. | Credit: Ankita Mukherjee
the road. A KV Hebbal teacher who uses the under-construction footpath said: “I face difficulty reaching the footbridge.” BBMP executive engineer Fatah Mohammad said work on the footpath began in October 2018, and needs time to be completed. As the road leads to National Highway 4 (Chennai-Bengaluru-Mumbai), the entire road cannot be blocked to complete the work. So one side of it needs to be completed first. He promised that the work will be completed within a month and a half. “To work on footpaths, we need permission from the drainage department and BTRAC so that the construction doesn’t create congestion. Then, while we work, Bescom, BWSSB and other government agencies intervene, so it gets delayed,” Mohammad added. Dr V. Ramesh, professor and head of the civil engineering department in the Rajarajeshwari College of Engineering, said: “Until the work is completed, the people who are affected should adjust to it.” According to him, the reason behind the disruption in work is the change in government. “If they want fast progress, the residents should go on strike. Otherwise, they must bear with the situation.” ankita.m@iijnm.org
CITY
The Observer Thursday, August 29, 2019
On weekends, Church Street suffers 30-minute traffic jams
•Retrics Food and Shopping Festival at Swami Vivekananda Park, Bangalore from 30 August to 1 September, 2019.
•Masking Tape Canvas Painting Workshop for kids at Full of Toys(Jayanagar) on 31 August, Saturday, 2019, 11am – 1pm.
Aarthi N.
•Inorbit Fun Run 2019 – With Fun on the Go at Inorbit Mall on 1 September, 2019, 5-8 pm. •Movie Under The Stars at Shanti Nagar, Bengaluru on 31 August, 2019, 7 pm.
As cars are parked too close to each other, the drivers find it difficult to take their vehicles out which at times lead to arguments.During the weekends, the congestion is worse. | Credit: Aarthi N. rides. Also, people who do not find space in the parking lots of restaurants park their fourwheelers outside, making it difficult for other vehicles to move. “I am waiting to pick a customer who has booked a ride to Koramangala from here. As no parking space is available, I parked my vehicle here,” an Ola driver said. “It is the mistake of both the drivers and the police. Traffic police should tow the vehicles away. It’s not a place for taxi drivers to wait for their customers. They should follow the rules, and if they do not follow, police should take immediate action. It is the joint responsibility of both drivers
and enforcers,” M.N. Sreehari, adviser to the Karnataka government on traffic, transportation and infrastructure, said. According to Bengaluru Traffic Police rules, “Every driver of a motor vehicle, parking on any road shall park in such a way that it does not cause or is not likely to cause danger, obstruction or undue inconvenience to other road users and the manner of parking is indicated by any sign board or markings on the road side, and he shall park his vehicle in such manner.” Because cars are parked too close to each other, drivers find it difficult to take their vehicles out. At times this leads to arguments
between them. “It is irritating to drive because many vehicles are parked on this road,” said Anjana D, a student. During weekends, vehicles diverted to the right near Empire Hotel move slowly due to congestion. “The road is narrow and it’s crowded,” said Venkatesh, a constable controlling traffic on the street. Church Street, which is parallel to M.G. Road, is one of Bengaluru’s busiest streets. A hotspot of tourists, the road is filled with restaurants, pubs and shops selling clothes and mobile accessories. aarthi.n@iijnm.org
Illegal parking chokes lane near Mysuru Road Metro station Goods carriers find it tough to reach main road Chirag Dutta Bengaluru: Factory trucks and goods carrier vehicles find it difficult to reach Mysuru Road because vehicles parked in a lane beside the Nayandahalli Metro station block their way. Drivers park their vehicles in the lane, a no-parking zone, for hours. Vijay P, a goods vehicle driver for Neha Plastic, said that the congestion caused due to illegal parking creates problems for goods vehicles. “We are used to the situation. This has been happening for a long time. Especially during weekends, we have to go through the hassle to get our vehicles out. The number of cars parked on the lane is more on Saturdays than on other days.” Officer Yatish B of the Cobra 3
Around the city
•Open Jam organized by Saurabh D and Sameera S at Cubbon Park on1 September, Sunday, 2019, 4:30-6:30 pm.
Reason:Vehicles are parked on both its sides Bengaluru: Traffic stands still on narrow Church Street for as long as 30 minutes during weekends. The reason: the no-parking zone teems with parked vehicles and street vendors. “There are a lot of shops, restaurants and pubs on this street. On Saturday nights, the place is very crowded. After 5pm, traffic becomes heavy as people park their vehicles on both sides and leave,” an HDFC Bank guard who refused to give his name informed The Observer. Vehicles are parked on either side of the street, in front of shops and restaurants, by people who do not find space to park. Even on weekdays, traffic jams last up to 15 minutes. With vendors selling their goods on the footpath, pedestrians find it difficult to walk. It is tough for them to cross the road because of the heavy traffic. “As there’s no parking space, I parked my vehicle to get tea from Chai Point. I parked it because I knew I would be back in a maximum of 10 minutes,” said Ragunath M, an IT professional. Autorickshaw and cab drivers park their vehicles on the road to wait for people who have booked
3
Vehicles parked in the lane jam the first left turn which connects the lane to the main road. | Credit: Chirag Dutta Traffic police unit informed The Observer: “A week ago, five cars were fined Rs 1,000 for parking in the lane. The parking problem persists as the locals don’t complain. Drivers think they can get away easily.” The locals think that these cars mostly belong to wealthy people who come to vist the factories.
When The Observer approached the driver of a vehicle parked ille gally, he said: “I have been here for over an hour now. This is not a resident’s car, and I do not reside nearby. Most of the cars are not from places within a 5-km radius. They park here for a few hours and leave.” Dr B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda, the
joint commissioner of police who heads Bengaluru’s traffic management, said: “Illegal parking has always been a huge issue in the city. At times, this leads to brawls. We are trying our best to contain traffic issues.” Just outside the Metro station, the stall keeper of Bounce, a scooter rental company, said: “The scooters parked in the lane are those which have been returned.” The manager of Mastiff Hotel, near the Metro station, said: “We have parking space in our hotel. The cars parked in the lane do not belong to any of our customers. Several drivers say they are charged hourly for parking in the lane.” The Mysore Road Metro control room has said Bangalore Metro Railway Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) does not have anything to do with the illegal parking. BMRCL has allotted separate parking spots on both sides of the station.They do not want to make a statement on the issue. chirag.d@iijnm.org
•Women Writers Fest Bangalore at Gilly’s Redefined on 31 August 29, 2019, 10:30 am5:30 pm •Biggest Bollywood Saturday Night at Sugar Factory on 31 August , Saturady 8 pm – 1 September, Sunday 1 am •Board Games Meetup Dialogues Café, Koramangla: Bengaluru, Saturday night on 31 August •Indi Graffiti + Kaushik Shukla (Hindi Rock) BFlat Bar, Indira Nagar: Bengaluru on 30 August, tomorrow 9.00PM •Cross Border Cinema: Embrace of The Serpent Lahe Lane, Bengaluru on 30 August, tomorrow 7.30PM •Retrics food and shopping festival, Swami Vivekananda Park, on 31 August, Saturday, 10 AM •Masking Tape canvas Painting Workshop For Kids, Suraj Towers Jaynagar, on 31 August, Saturday, 11AM
WEATHER Mostly cloudy Maximum: 29 degrees Cesius Minimum: 20 degrees Celsius Tomorrow’s Forecast: Mostly cloudy Maximum: 28 degrees Cesius
Team Observer Editor: Aarthi N Copy editors: Aarthi N, Adilin Beatrice, Ankita Mukherjee, Aman Bhardwaj, Chirag Dutta. Reporters: Aarthi N, Adilin Beatrice, Ankita Mukherjee, Aman Bhardwaj, Chirag Dutta. Photo editor: Aman Bhardwaj. Supplements: Shoby Krishna, Manasvi Gupta.
Culture & Society
The Observer SUPPLEMENT
4
Thursday, August 29, 2019
An Unknown Life Saver O
Platelet donation is less taxing than blood donation but just as critical, says Shoby Krishna
f the 9,374 cases of dengue reported in Karnataka this year, Bangalore accounts for as many as 5,832. One of the definitive symptoms of dengue is a drastic fall in platelet count (from a normal 1,50,000-4,50,000 to 50,000/microlitre). Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are one of the components of human blood indispensable for initiating the process of blood clotting. Unless the patient receives an immediate platelet transfusion, she could suffer uncontrollable internal bleeding and die. Though not all dengue cases need an immediate platelet transfusion, most dengue patients in the ICU require one as soon as possible. This,in turn,leads to unexpected surges in demand for platelet donors. But they’re not readily available even in urban centres like Bangalore. The lack of public awareness is costing dengue patients their lives. Says Manjunatha Reddy H.R, secretary of Swami Vivekanada Voluntary Blood Bank located in SR Nagar in Bengaluru, “In a
Decreased platelets due to dengue means reduced ability to fight against infection | Credit: Indian News & Times month, we get around 400-500 blood donations out of which 95% are voluntary and the remaining are need-based. On the other hand, for platelets, we get 20 to 30 donations which are only need-based as they cannot be stored for a long time.”
The irony is that blood, which can be donated only once in three months, has a donor base much larger than platelets, which can be donated twice a month. But blood has a longer shelf-life of 42 days than platelets, which have shelf life of only 5 days. Hence there is a
greater need for platelet donors. Platelet donation is not as well-known as blood or organ donations. Even many regular blood donors are ignorant of the procedure for platelet donation. But the process is really not complicated and is less demanding. The beauty of the procedure of Single Donor Platelet (SDP) donation lies in the fact that the Apheresis machine separates the platelet component of the blood and the blood is returned to the donor’s body. Unlike a whole blood donation, SDP donation is assisted by a cell separator, an electronic apparatus that processes blood. The whole blood is drawn directly from the donor’s veins, centrifugated to extract a specific blood component (platelet, plasma, etc.), and the remaining portions of the blood are returned to the donor’s body. This process is called Apheresis. The platelets harvested from the donors are stored at room temperature (20º to 24ºC) for up to five days with continuous agitation to facilitate gas exchange and prevent platelet
aggregation. Says, Karthik Muralidharan, a motivational speaker who has been an SDP donor since 2016, “Excepting the needle prick, I feel no other pain during or post donation. And the very fact that an effort as trivial as this can bring someone back to life is quite overwhelming.”
L
ow platelet count can also be the consequence of treatment such chemotherapy, vitamin deficiencies, leukaemia and so on. According to the study entitled Estimation of blood requirement in India, published by National Aids Control Organisation, low platelet count was the second most common condition after anaemia in pregnant Indian women. As ever in India, awareness of the most rudimentary health and safety procedures can save thousands of avoidable fatalities. With the increasing frequency of dengue outbreaks across the country, a campaign to encourage platelet donation is a good starting point.
The Terrors of the Home “E
Domestic violence can only be stopped if families stand by their daughters, says Manasvi Gupta
ven strong working women are not spared,” says Jyothna, a victim of domestic violence in Bangalore. “Though he himself was misusing my hard-earned money all this time, he accused me of all the wrongdoing,” she recalls.“My bold, independent nature hit my partner’s ego hard.”Her husband attempted to murder her. Across social class and age groups, domestic violence has assumed the proportions of an epidemic.The World Health Organization says that almost 35% of women worldwide have experienced some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. According to the National Crime Records Bureau report of 2016, around 61% of cases were not reported. Indian women who face domestic violence prefer not to speak about it to anybody because of the fear of being judged and the stigma attached to filial discord. Chanda (name changed) from Bihar, says the orthodox mindset of the family and the fear of embarrassment in society forced her to shut her
Every third women,since the age of 15 has faced domestic violence of various forms in India, according to National Family Health Survey-4 | Credit: Domesticviolence.tv
even inform me. He just dragged the case to next dates in order to make money from each hearing.” Despite the implementation of The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, the brutal physical and mental torture endured by the women continues. As Jyothna recounts, “All my savings were spent in legal proceedings, but in vain. Domestic violence has robbed me of my peace and security.I’m just looking for a strong female lawyer who can handle my case and also protect my privacy.”
mouth. “My alcoholic husband beat me up almost every other day and when I asked my parents to get me a divorce, they simply refused,” she says. “They even refused to let me stay with them and asked me to ignore the problem.” Women accept the fact that they ae isolated and particularly vulnerable in a system that offers no protection to victims. Jyothna says she’s still harassed by the police officials who keep delaying the charge
n patriarchal societies like India, where family remains the ultimate arbiter of what’s acceptable and what’s not, we have to persuade parents and male siblings that marriage cannot be a dereliction of duty. Getting a women married does not absolve every one of them of their duty to protect her and care for her wellbeing. The worst violence happens in the privacy of the home and is made infinitely worse when a woman has nobody to turn to.
sheet. She says, “I got the police to file a first information report(FIR) against my husband in February 2019 for attempt to murder, but six months have passed and the progress is absolutely nil.” Human rights activists say police are reluctant to file an FIR in most cases as the victims are often poor and unaware of their rights. Cases have also been reported where the police try to settle the matter rather than file a criminal offense.
The Legal Services Authority Act, 1987offers free services of lawyers to victims of domestic violence but few seem to be able to avail of them. Jyothna points to how the avarice of the lawyer and the patriarchy embedded in the system affected her case. “I had to spend nearly Rs. 50,000 in the initial proceedings of the case,” she says. “But that was not the only problem I faced. The public prosecutor intentially kept moving the hearing date and my advocate wouldn’t
I