Ill-treated wives prefer to separate

Ill-treated wives prefer to separate
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: Middle aged women who are ill-treated or harassed by their husbands and in-laws may not seek divorce in Goa, but are certainly looking forward to separation.
An increasing number of women in their 50s and 60s now seek separation — provided under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 — from their “ill-treating” husbands.
And, the number of such cases is on the rise.
More than 40 women in the state sought protection under the Act in the first four months of 2008 while in 2007, 43 women sought refuge under the Act.
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act was implemented in the state only in 2007 and family counsellors believe that this is just the tip of the ice-berg.
“Surprisingly, women in their 50s and 60s are opting for separation rather than divorce as they feel that the Act ensures protection of their rights,” said Goa State Commission for Women chairperson Dr Pramod Salgaocar.
The commission itself received around 15 such cases last year.
“The good news is that in most cases, the children support the mother,” added Dr Salgaocar.
For women in domestic dismay, the Act grants immediate relief and deters the perpetrator and enables the woman to sustain her battle against domestic violence while maintaining her rights.
“Separation could well be a step taken by the husband and wife to safeguard family reputation. It also allows room for the couple to come together in future,” said Fr Socorro Mendes, Family Service Centre, Archdiocese of Goa.
“Most women complain of sexual or physical assault, torture, extra marital affairs and children abuse.’’
“Many also allege that they are not allowed to take up jobs, besides not being given money for daily expenses,” said a block development officer from South Goa, who is also a protection officer.
“Often, due to social stigma and the fear of hampering their children’s — especially daughter’s —- marriage prospects, women are forced to continue in a difficult relationship.
They prefer to stay separately with the tag of being ‘married women’,” said women’s activist, advocate Albertina Almeida.
Interestingly, Goa is the only state in the country to have family laws under the Portuguese Civil Code.
The law defines marriage as a contract, wherein majority of couples opt for communion of assets.
In other words, the husband and wife have an equal share in all assets acquired before and after marriage, ensuring that both have equal rights to home, property and bank account.
But, women activists state that though the laws exist, it is only on paper and often women are denied equal rights.
“Family laws give equal rights to the man and the woman in most respects. However, these provisions don’t necessarily turn out to be egalitarian for the woman. If she is thrown out of her house, there is no alternate and immediate support system. Family laws may guarantee a woman her rights in the long run but she should have the sustaining power to last her through, which in most cases is difficult,” added Adv Almeida.
(Few names changed to protect identity)

2008 Jun 01 Times Of India Goa