By Vicky Nanjappa: The Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF) which has taken up the cause of Men's Rights is seeking a private bill in Parliament to enact a law for protection of men from domestic violence. The bill is being sought in the wake of a survey by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) finding that about 1.8% or an estimated 60 lakh women have perpetrated physical violence against husbands without any provocation. However, men are more likely to be threatened and attacked by male relatives of the wife than the wife herself.
Men need protection: Rajesh Vakharia, President of SIFF informed Oneindia that in most countries, the laws against domestic violence provide protection to both men and women. Men can also seek restraining orders from courts, which restrain the abusive partner or wife from perpetrating abuse and even contacting the victim.
However, in India family violence against men is almost legal as there is no provision in any law to protect a man, who faces violence from wife or other female family members, Vakharia says. This situation is mainly due to the patriarchal thinking in the society, that men are stronger than women and they can defend themselves with physical force. It's high time India keeps pace with the rest of the world and makes the laws against domestic violence gender neutral. Men want a bill: "We are talking with a couple of MPs to submit a private member bill in the parliament to start the steps towards enacting a law for protection of men from domestic violence. It is long overdue.
