The Hindu : National : Now, NCW to save marriages through counselling

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Now, NCW to save marriages through counselling

Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Women (NCW), after ensuring the strengthening of major laws related to women, will now focus on saving marriages through counselling. Its “Save Home, Save the Family” campaign will dissuade couples from parting ways, except in extreme situations.

“But that does not mean we oppose laws meant to provide justice to women,” NCW chairperson Girija Vyas said here.

The need for professional counselling to save marriages and families was felt in the wake of instances of young couples breaking up over trivial issues, she said, adding that in most cases women suffered the most.

A pilot project would be launched along with the Delhi Police to focus on the role of police, the NCW and other stakeholders in securing justice for women in a friendly manner.

The exercise was also aimed at sensitising police personnel to gender issues.

The project, to be implemented from next month on an experimental basis, would also look into cases of domestic violence and other forms of marital discord with the ultimate aim of conciliation and settlement, Ms. Vyas said.

The Commission would write to all States to initiate similar projects with the thrust on proper implementation of the Domestic Violence Act and sections related to the Dowry Act. It intended to empower anganwadi workers to act as third party mediators to resolve marital discord.

Ms. Vyas said instances of violence against women were the highest in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand. It was primarily due to lack of awareness and improper implementation of laws.

Sudhir Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Against Women Cell), said the attempt would be to make police stations more friendly to women so that they do not hesitate to walk in with their problems, and also hope for a speedy redressal of their complaints. “We are able to resolve up to 80 per cent of marital discords through counselling, and now with professional counsels around, the percentage is expected to be higher,” he said.

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