Women prone to violence in privacy

Bhopal, Nov 5 (UNI) Women are more prone to atrocities in privacy at places otherwise considered safe like their home and workplace, says a report.

They fall victim to domestic violence, dowry harassment, rape and sexual harassment at workplace in privacy as such incidents were the basis of more than half of the 1,676 complaints lodged by women with the Madhya Pradesh State Women's Commission during 2003-04.

A total of 338 complaints of domestic violence, 253 of dowry harassment, 149 of sexual harassment at workplace and 103 of rape or attempt to rape were received during the year, says the Commission's report presented in the State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

Complaints regarding dowry death, kidnapping, murder, suicide, property dispute, alimony and problems relating to children were also received.

The Commission, which came into existence in 1998, faced shortage of fund, staff and office space, hampering its work, the report pointed out.

The Commission also claimed to have taken measures to check child marriage, prostitution prevalent in Bedia, Sansi and Banchada communities and harassment of women labelling them as ''Dayan''(witchcraft practice).

The Commission suggested to encourage legal marriage or registration of marriage. According to a custom prevalent in Chhatarpur district, the woman was forced to have a live-in relationship merely on the basis of an affidavit before a public notary. The woman considers it a court marriage though after many years she realises that she has no rights as a wife.

The Commission had admitted 1041 complaints in 2003-04 and sought reports in 949 cases. Special sittings were held to resolve 53 complaints, while 76 others were solved in other sittings, the report added.

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