Mapping violence at home

National health survey factors domestic violence for the first time; Mumbai woman has least to fear

THE Domestic Violence Act has been in force for a month but now comes along a survey that shows just how much ground the law has to cover. Across the country, there is no one readable pattern of violence nor a uniform gradation across levels of education or living styles. What would work for Mumbai8217;s working woman definitely would not for a villager in West Bengal.

The National Family Health Survey for 2005-06, the third in a series, has for the first time incorporated parameters such as spousal violence against women. The earlier surveys were carried out in 1992-93 and 1998-99 under the stewardship of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Rajasthan is the prime worry this year. Almost half 46.3 per cent of the women interviewed admitted to violence by their husbands. The cow belt trails close by, with 42 per cent women admitting to violence against them. In Madhya Pradesh, 45.8 per cent women said they were under attack at home. More than half the women interviewed in all three states said they had no role to play in household decision-making.

Figures were released only for a few states though the survey was mandated to cover 29. Chennai was the lone metropolis to be studied south beyond the state paradigm.

West Bengal scored the worst in terms of women being heard. Only 38 per cent of women said they had a say at home which dropped the country8217;s lowest of 34 in the rural areas. Her counterpart in Jammu and Kashmir is only marginally ahead, around 39 per cent.

Silver Lining

Only six out of 100 women in Himachal Pradesh said they suffered violence at the hands of their husbands. The Valley is better off too, with less than 13 women in 100 experiencing violence. Kerala and Meghalaya were close by, at 16.4 per cent and 13.1 per cent. Punjab shows a disappointing figure, though, one-fourth of the women interviewed said they faced domestic violence.

The one factor that makes a difference, the survey shows, is education. While around 50 per cent of uneducated women in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh face violence, the figures for those educated plummets to around 20 per cent. The rural-urban divide, though, is not markable enough.

N-E PARADOX

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The lone paradox turns out to be Manipur. While more than four women out of 10 admitted to violence by their husbands, 85 per cent women said they made the decisions at home, not their husbands.

Meghalaya, with low violence as well, was second with 83.4 per cent of women saying they were decision-makers. Arunachal Pradesh 75.9, Delhi 69.5 and Kerala 62.5 follow closely.

METRO EQUATION

Metros fared marginally better on the violence count but are much better off on decision-making. In Chennai, 40 per cent of the women said they faced domestic violence. In Kolkata, the figure was 40.6 per cent while nearly 75 per cent said they took the decisions for the family. Mumbai, however, is the way metros need to go. Only 19.5 per cent women said they faced violence while almost three times that said they decided for the family. That Mumbai is an example even Maharashtra has to replicate is evident; nearly 31 per cent of the women here said they faced violence at home. New Delhi comes close, with only 16.5 per cent women saying they faced domestic violence.