Domestic violence in India

Around two-third of married women in India were victims of domestic violence and one incident of violence translates into women losing seven working days in the country, a United Nations report said.
As many as 70 per cent of married women in India between the age of 15 and 49 are victims of beating, rape or coerced sex, the United Nation Population Fund report said.
The report said violence against women was putting a huge strain on a nation's social and legal services and leads to heavy loss of productivity.
The report said one in five women will be a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime, one in three would have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused usually by a family member or an acquaintance.
The report said women in several countries justify wife-beating for one reason or another.
The reasons include neglecting children, going out without telling partner, arguing with partner, refusing to have sex, not preparing food properly or on time and talking with other men, it said.
Overall, the report said, several governments have started taking action and enacting laws to fight the menace but their effect is limited because of deep-rooted social mores in several societies.
The consequences of gender-based violence are devastating, including life-long emotional distress, mental health issues and poor reproductive health.
"Abused women are also at a higher risk of acquiring HIV," the report said adding that it puts burden on the healthcare system as they become long-term users of health services.
Besides, the effect might extend to future generation as children who see violence, or were victims themselves, often suffer a lasting psychological damage, it added.
India tackles this problem by implementing a new law to protect women from domestic violence. The law also bans harassment by way of dowry demands and gives sweeping powers to a magistrate to issue protection orders where needed.
Punishment could range from a jail term of up to one year and/or a fine of up to 20,000 rupees ($450).
Domestic abuse is often denied by the victims themselves.