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Lucknow, January 24: * Firstly, how do you perceive the Act ? Lot of people have been calling it as a “Ghar todne wala bill” , or an Act which threatens to break homes. Your comment.
I would like to make this clear in the first place itself. This is not a ‘home breaker’ or a ‘ghar todne wala act’. We activists and legal experts call it a ‘ghar jodne wala’ or ‘home maker act’. People should not fear it, but women can now feel more secure from all types of domestic violence.
* This Act has come after a lot of struggle, right? So, is it actually an end to the problems of all women suffering from domestic violence?
Lawyers’ Collective (a Delhi-based organisation), along with several other associations and organisations across the country, had been demanding such an Act for quite a long time. Although we wanted a lot more, this is just a beginning, that will take the struggle for women’s rights somewhere. We may not say that it will end the problem, but it will surely give voice to women who are suffering and do not want to make it a criminal case.
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* Many people are still confused whether the Act comes under civil law or a criminal law. What is the sphere for conviction and police in this Act?
People must understand that this is a civil law and the scope for police comes in only at a very late stage- when things seem to go out of hand! Initially, a woman will be approaching the protection (or rescue) officer appointed by the state, who will take care of the matter. Whether it is lodging the complaint with the judicial officers or calling the police or even referring the matter to any organisation, the entire task would be done by the rescue officer.
* Are there any rules or norms for the state government or the Union Government about making the Act more clear and more available to the masses?
This is the first time that any Act has clearly stated that the details of the Act should be made clear to the masses by the state government. Infact, the Act makes this the responsibility of the state government. In Section 11 of the PWDV Act, it is stated that this Act should be widely publicised by the state government. It may be through newspaper advertisements, through the district officials or through any other mass medium.
* When the Act talks about protection officers, what are the provisions planned for them?
The Act has stated that the tenure for the protection officer is three years. But ironically, there is no other provision mentioned in the Act. The other provisions, such as qualifications and other provisions, will be decided by the state government. So, we actually see that anyone and everyone is becoming a rescue officer. The ball is now in the court of the media and the NGOs, to build pressure and make right persons the rescue officers. |