VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN INDIA (400 WORDS)

Women in India have been victims of violence from many years in almost all the societies, regions, cultures
and religious communities. Women in the Indian society have to bear variety of violence such as domestic,
public, physical, social, emotional and mental. Violence against women is clearly seen in the history to a large
extent which is still getting practiced without any positive change. Women in India were enjoying a quite
comfortable position all through the Vedic period however, the condition got declined gradually because of the
practice of violence against women all through the country. On the other hand, with the increasing level of
violence against women they started losing their educational, social, political, economic, and cultural
opportunities in the society.

They became restricted to live their normal lifestyle like healthy diet, wishful dress, marriage, etc. It was huge
effort of male dominated country to make women limited and obedient. They started being enslaved and
prostituted. Women in India started being used as commodities for the men to perform different functions of
daily routine. There is a culture in the society for women to understand husband as a God, keep fast for their
wellness and be depended on husbands. Widows were restricted to marry again and forced to follow sati
pratha. Men understood their rights to beat women with rope or a bamboo stick. Violence against woman took
a very fast speed when young girls were forced to serve as a Devadasi in the temple. It given rise to the
prostitution system as a part of the religious life.

The fight of two major cultures (Islam and Hinduism) in the medieval period has increased the violence against
women to a great extent. Young girls were forced to marry in the very early age and follow purdah system in
the society. It made them isolated from almost whole world except their husband and family. Polygamy with
strong roots was also started in the society and women lose their right of having unshared husband’s love.
Female infanticide, dowry system and bride-killings are other big violence. Women are also facing lack of
nutritious food, negligence to medicine and proper checkup, lack of educational opportunities, sexual abuse of
girl child, rapes, forced and unwanted marriages, sexual harassment at public, home or work place, unwanted
pregnancies at small intervals, bride-burning, wife-battering, negligence of old women in family, etc.

In order to reduce the number of offenses and crimes against women in India, another Juvenile Justice (Care
and Protection of Children) law, 2015 has been made by the Indian government. It is done so to replace the
earlier Indian juvenile delinquency law of 2000 especially after the Nirbhaya case during which an accused
juvenile was released. In this act, the juvenile age has been reduced by two years means 16 years from 18 years
in cases of heinous offenses.