HYDERABAD: A study conducted to understand the implementation of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) revealed that 90 percent of the respondent survivors is not even aware of the existence of the Act. This, when the Act came into existence 11 years ago.
While 65 percent of survivors said they did not get a proper response from police, as much as 84 percent said they had good counselling support. The study, conducted between Dec 2015 and Feb 2016 by Bhumika Women’s Collective, reveals several loopholes in the implementation of the Act in Telangana. Formed in 1995, Bhumika addresses the issues of women in distressed and vulnerable conditions.
While the stakeholders shared there is a need for better coordination between them - Protection Officers, counsellors, service providers, shelter homes, advocates and judges - the roundtable workshop scheduled for the day could not take off, thanks to government officials not turning up.
“This is how indifferent government officials are towards issues of women. Our study shows there are a lot of gaps that need to be addressed with regard to the implementation of the Act,” said K Satyavati from Bhumika.