The data released by the NCW said a total of 257 complaints related to various offences against women were received from March 24 till April 1, out of which 69 complaints are related to domestic violence.
As the threat of COVID-19 rose in India last month, the Central Government ordered a nationwide 21-day complete lockdown to stop the spread of the virus. While it may have brought some check to the spread of the novel coronavirus, it has also triggered some unintended consequences like for those without homes and migrant labourers.
Among those who have been quarantined at home, women are facing the consequences of the lockdown. The National Commission for Women has said there has been a huge uptick in the number of domestic violence cases.
The data released by the NCW said a total of 257 complaints related to various offences against women were received from March 24 till April 1, out of which 69 complaints are related to domestic violence. The number, it said, has been increasing since then.
Just to put this in perspective, there were 111 complaints in the first week of March while it was over 250 in the last week.
NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said the actual number is much higher as many women do not report such incidents.
"Women are not approaching the police because they think that if they take her husband away, the in-laws would be torturing her. Because of the lockdown, women are not able to reach out to the police. They don't even want to go to the police because they are afraid that once their husband comes out of the police station, he will again torture her and she can't even move out," Sharma said.
"Earlier women could go to their parents' place but now they are unable to reach. The NCW is in touch with these complainants," she said.
The phenomenon is not unique to India and such cases have been reported from all across the world.
In France, where the lockdown was imposed on March 17, the cases of domestic violence have risen by 32%. In capital Paris, there has been a rise of 36% in domestic cases.
In Spain, there has been a significant rise in the number of calls on the helpline. While there was a 12% rise in the number of calls, 270% uptick was recorded in online consultations. Activists say that besides call on helpline numbers, they have received SOS messages and emails as many women are afraid to call the helpline from home.
National Domestic Violence Hotline in the United States usually receives 2,000 calls daily but around 900 callers these days mention coronavirus.
Women rights activists in Brazil said there has been a rise of 40-50% in cases of domestic violence.
In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Google search has seen a 75% rise in seeking help.
Over half the world's population is under lockdown as the number of coronavirus cases crossed 11 lakh on Saturday. Nearly 59,000 people have died of coronavirus.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Representational image")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}