Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : As per the information received from National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for the period from April 2020 to June 2020, legal aid and assistance has been provided in 2,878 domestic violence cases and petition has been filed in 452 cases under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA). Altogether 694 cases have been resolved through counselling/ mediation.
The WCD Ministry issued its advisory on March 25, 2020, to ensure that during the nationwide lockdown, its One Stop Centres (OSCs) under One Stop Centre Scheme and Women Helplines (WHL) under the Universalisation of Women Helpline Scheme (through toll free telephonic short code 181), which support women on matters pertaining to safety, remain operational.
In the same advisory, Protection Officers under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, and ‘Dowry Prohibition Officers’ under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, were also directed to continue their services related to providing protection and support to women affected by violence during the lockdown. This information was given in a written reply by Union Minister of Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Zubin Irani in Rajya Sabha on September 17, 2020, according to a PIB release.