The Status of Implementation of PWDVA: Odisha Consultation

The Status of Implementation of PWDVA: Odisha Consultation

The importance of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) was never in question, but it has come in focus particularly during the lockdown, on account of COVID-19, as there has been a rise in number of women facing domestic violence.

“This was a historic legislation in that for the first time women facing domestic abuse could avail of civil remedies instead of merely relying on family and friends or the police, the only recourse available to women up until then,” said Amita Pitre, Lead Specialist, Oxfam India.

The Act recognises all forms of violence women face in intimate relationships including physical, psychological, economic and sexual violence. It offers remedies to women such as a Protection Order to immediately stop the violence; the right to stay in the marital or shared home irrespective of who owns the house; a ground level mechanism to exercise these rights and a single window system for getting maintenance; child custody and retrieving ‘streedhan’ if required, in the event that the woman decides to leave.

Oxfam India’s field experience of supporting nearly 10 Support Centres in three states (Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh) shows that women shy away from reporting to the police about the violence they face, because then they perceive it as a choice of leaving the marriage which they do not want to exercise.

On 19 September 2020, Oxfam India in consultation with the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), organised a consultation on the status of implementation of the Act in Odisha. Oxfam India collaborated with the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), Odisha for the same. 119 participants, including office bearers of the SLSA and District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) from 30 districts, Women and Child Development (WCD) Department Officials, Protection Officers, Service Providers and Women’s Rights Activists took part in the consultation. Akshay Kumar Biswal, the regional manager of Oxfam India’s Odisha office welcomed the guests and highlighted the importance of these partnerships for women to receive and have access to services to protect them from abuse.

The member secretary of Odisha State Legal Services Authority, Meenakshi Das, reiterated that, “Women’s Rights are human rights and they should be given their ‘voice’. And that is why it is important to discuss the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act”. Speaking on the occasion, she spoke in details about the Act, its provisions and how women can avail of its services; district level mechanism of Protection Officers who are meant to support the woman in filing her application in the court; the role of Service Providers who provide medical, counselling and Shelter Home services to women; and the SLSA and DLSA which provides free legal aid to women. “All these mechanisms need to work in a convergent manner for optimum implementation of the Act.”  

Oxfam India, at the consultation, presented the findings of the ground level assessment which Oxfam India and women’s rights alliance members undertook in 12 districts of the state. The assessment showed that while Odisha was among the states with better implementation of the Domestic Violence act, it still had its challenges.

Findings of the Report

  • In Odisha, in all the 12 districts (where the study was conducted), the ICDS Programme Officers were given the additional charge of Protection Officer (PO). One of the districts had two Protection Officers. 
  • Out of the 13 POs interviewed only seven had received training for the job.
  • It was found that most POs, except in three districts, did not assist the woman in preparing her application, which under the Act is their duty. The application is a long and detailed document and women need help to fill it.
  • Breach of orders given under the PWDVA is a criminal offence, which means that the Police can intervene if the court orders such as protection against violence, child custody or providing maintenance are not followed. However, most POs do not take the help of the police in such cases and therefore many times the court orders are not implemented.
  • Only in two districts did POs maintain a directory of service providers, medical facilities, counsellors, shelter homes etc which is required by survivors of domestic violence. These two districts have demonstrated this as a best practice under the Act worth replicating by other states.
  • Another example of Best practices by a few POs was the creation of a ‘Safety Plan’ for survivors of domestic violence approaching them.  
  • Major challenges in the effective implementation of the Act are a) lack of convergence between various services and agencies under the Act and lack of monitoring of its implementation. A district and state level mechanism is required for convergence and monitoring under the Act; b) women survivors do not get protection orders and other relief in time, which is the stipulated 60 days, under the Act. As mentioned earlier the orders under the Act are often not implemented.

The presentation was followed by discussions on how the ground situation can and should be improved. “What is happening to the DIRs, the complaints under the domestic violence act? Protection Officers only make DIRs. Moreover, we are not getting the expected orders within the stipulated time of 60 days. Enforcement of orders is also a problem. The PWDVA is not living up to its promise,” said Pramila Swain, Convenor, National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO), Odisha Chapter. 

Summing up the report’s findings, Byomkesh Nayak, Member Secretary, DLSA, Gajapati District said, “While we are providing legal assistance to the survivor, the holistic measures and convergence is still lacking. The Court has powers to ensure convergence and POs should play an active role in keeping track of the court orders, and their enforcement.” He added that in many instances, husbands and family of the aggrieved woman hide, or run away or evade the orders of the court, and this makes it difficult for the orders to be enforced. “POs have the powers of an inquiring officer. They must investigate and apprise the court of what is happening.”

“The PWDVA is meant to be a bottom-up act. Hundreds of women were consulted about what they want and that became the basis for the Act. Women should continue to be central to the implementation of the act or the aims and objectives of the act will not be served,”summed up Poonam Kathuria, Director, SWATI.

Recommendations for the State:

  • Appoint independent cadre of full time Protection Officers;
  • Protection Officers should receive infrastructure of an office, transportation, and assistance in implementing the Act;
  • Create a State and District-level convergence and monitoring mechanism
  • Ensure that orders are passed within 60 days
  • Ensure that orders are enforced with the help of the Police

   

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