Girija calls for effective implementation of Domestic Violence Act

Jaipur, Nov 3 (UNI) National Women's Commission chairperson Dr Girija Vyas called for ''honest'' implementation of the Domestic Violence Act by the appointment of protection officers in all states.

Addressing a press conference here today she said otherwise the act otherwise would face the same fate as that of the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961.

Dr Vyas said the intensity of the problem related to domestic violence against women in the country could be gauged from the fact that one out of every three case is related to domestic violence.

She said one of the main reasons for the ineffectiveness of the Dowry Prohibition Bill 1961 was the insensitivity of the state governments. She said the Act made a provision for the post of protection officers but no state has bothered to create the posts leaving the law ineffective.

She said the Domestic Violence Act also have a provision for the post of protection officers to take up the cause of the victims. She asked the state governments to expedite the process of the appointment of the officers for the effective implementation of the Act.

Dr Vyas said with the concept of gender-based-budget gaining acceptance' the women welfare related departments would get more budget allocation in the coming years.

She also called for sensitising the society on correcting imbalance in the sex-ratio and puting a stop to the practice of female foeticide in the country.

UNI PJJ MS KP1522