Harassed husbands seek freedom on Independence Day

Bangalore, Aug 4: The 'harassed husbands' of India are planning something different for the upcoming Independence day. This group of men will be meeting in Shimla on Aug 15 2009 to use the day that marks freedom for the country to put forth their own need for 'freedom from harassment'.

Over hundred men representing a large group of 30,000 men will be meeting to decide on strategies to take on their wives. The men who feel that the Indian law and society is women-centric wish to get their troubles heard through the summit.

The event is organised by NGOs like Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), CRISP (Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting), Maharashtra's Purush Suraksha Sanstha and Uttar Pradesh's Pathi Paramesh Kendra.

The organisers who have clarified that they are not women haters, say that they are only calling on the summit to reaffirm the need for equality among women and men.

The husbands' demands include include a separate men's welfare ministry on the lines of the women and child welfare ministry, equal taxation for men and women, change in inheritance laws, amendment to the domestic violence prevention law, and mandatory joint custody of children for divorced couples.

According to studies done by SIFF from the National Crime Records Bureau, 1.2 lakh harassed husbands in India have committed suicide in last four years. This is nearly twice the number of women committing suicide over harassment from husbands.

OneIndia News