The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Prevention of Domestic Violence Act not against men: Ramathal

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Prevention of Domestic Violence Act not against men: Ramathal

Staff Reporter

It is aimed at getting equal rights to women as enshrined in the Constitution

— Photo: K. Ganesan

Explaining the purpose: K.M. Ramathal, Chairperson, Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women, at a seminar in Kariapatti on Thursday. (From left to right) the chairman of Sethu Institute of Technology, S. Mohammed Jalil, and the Virudhunagar Collector, V. Chandrasekaran, look on.

VIRUDHUNAGAR: The newly enacted Prevention of Domestic Violence Act is not against men, but aimed at securing equal rights for women as enshrined in the Constitution, State Commission for Women chairperson K. M. Ramathal said Thursday.

Addressing a seminar on ‘Domestic Violence Act’ organised by the commission at the Sethu Institute of Technology at Kariapatti here, she said: “It is not to break families … and not against men.” Though there were many legislation to protect the interests of women, only this Act was comprehensive.

Traditionally women’s portrayal had the attributes of fear, incomprehensiveness and timidity so that they remained submissive to men. “We are not aware of what acts against women are atrocities,” she said. Stating that women were treated as slaves and servants in families, she said the real attributes of women should be confidence, bravery and anger.

Referring to some lawyers in Madurai forming a welfare association for men, she said that it was only a fall out of women starting to question them.

Economic independence

Asking the women to pursue a career of their own, she said that economic independence was the only way to their empowerment. Parents believed that their duty ended with marrying off their daughters whereas marriage was only a beginning of life, Ms. Ramathal said.

The District Collector, V. Chandrasekaran, said shrinking families faced more problems in the absence of elders to guide them in the proper direction.

C. Sangamithra, SCW member, said that women not only faced ill treatment at the hands of their husbands but also faced discrimination by their parents.

She asked the women to seek the help of the commission in case of harassment from any quarters.

The identity of the complainant would be kept a secret, she added.

The college chairman, S. Mohammed Jaleel, spoke.

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