Legal aid provided in 2,878 domestic violence cases during lockdown

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 17 (EMN): The National Legal Services Authority (Nalsa) provided legal assistance in 2,878 cases of domestic violence during the lockdown period from April to June, the union minister for Women and Child Development, Zubin Irani told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Nalsa also filed petitions under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, in 452 cases. A total of 694 cases were resolved through counselling and mediation.

According to Irani, the government ensured that during the nationwide lockdown, the one-stop centres (OSCs) and women helplines (WHL), which support women on matters pertaining to safety, remained operational.

The protection officers under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and the dowry prohibition officers under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 were also directed to continue their services related to providing protection and support to the women affected by violence during the lockdown, she added.

Responding to another question, Irani said all the anganwadi centres in the country were closed to limit the impact of Covid-19.

“During the consultation held with states and UTs in the month of July 2020, most of the states had also expressed their inability to open anganwadi centres in the light of increasing incidents of Covid-19. However, to ensure continuous nutritional support to anganwadi beneficiaries, anganwadi workers and helpers have been distributing supplementary nutrition at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries,” she said.

Irani said the ministry has issued necessary directions to the states and Union territories to ensure distribution of food and nutrition support by anganwadi workers at the doorstep of the beneficiaries once in 15 days.

“In addition, anganwadi workers and anganwadi helpers have been assisting the local administration in community surveillance, creating awareness or other works assigned to them from time to time,” she added.