Lockdown Blues: National Commission For Women Reports Surge In Domestic Violence Cases

New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday stated that they have received nearly 69 cases of domestic violence during the nationwide lockdown imposed in the wake of COVID-19.

As per reports, the commission has received 69 cases of domestic violence, 77 cases under the right to live with dignity, and 15 cases of harassment of married women at home during the lockdown period.

Besides this, NCW has also received two cases of dowry deaths and 13 cases of rape or attempt to rape.

NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma, as quoted by Indian Express, said, “In the first week of March, the National Commission for Women received 116 complaints of crimes committed against women across the country,”

“I get one or two complaints every day. Today [Thursday], I received a complaint from Nainital where a woman is unable to travel to her home in Delhi and her husband is abusing and beating her.” she added.

A woman can register complaints with the NCW by visiting their office in different states, postal communication, phone calls, online complaint registration, emails and through social media.

However, the lockdown has narrowed down the channels of filing a complaint to only social media, email and online registration.

The abused women are facing a tough time now as they cannot approach the police also during the lockdown, said the NCW chief.

The number of cases registered from Uttar Pradesh is 90, from Delhi 37, 18 complaints from Bihar, 11 from Madhya Pradesh and 18 from Maharashtra.

Before the lockdown was announced, the number of domestic violence cases registered from these states was comparatively less.