Marital stress drives more men to suicide than women-Demand Men's Welfare Ministry and National Commision for Men- nternational Men’s day 2010

Marital stress drives more men to suicide than women-Demand Men's Welfare Ministry and National Commision for Men on International Men’s day 2010

Rebecca Samervel TNN

Mumbai

Has the equation in the war of the sexes changed

Strange it may sound,but the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) figures released by a city-based mens rights advocacy group shows that the number of married men ending their lives is far more than their female counterparts.And the group claims that the men to women suicide ratio of 65:35 indicates that it is the men can now don the tag of the oppressed sex.

The data was revealed on the World Mens Day by the Indian Family Foundation,a global movement started by the families of Indian men facing abuse in the hands of their wives.According to the figures mentioned in the report in 2008,57,639 married men across the country killed themselves,compared to 30,224 married women.Every nine minutes,an Indian husband commits suicide.Men contribute to 92 % taxes but face 100% ignorance, an organization member said.

The organization pointed out that most of the men who ended their lives were often ridiculed as being weak and irresponsible and denied any support or counselling.No one believes that men can be victims of domestic violence.But a survey shows that in the past 12 years,1,70,000 married men have committed suicide,as they could no longer bear the domestic strife, Zaveri added.

The organization blames the phenomenon on the fact that the world has turned a deaf ear to all the complaints coming from men.There is no limit to the expectations from a man.The unaddressed domestic abuse and family disputes are taking a huge toll on married men.No one shares their pain and there is no social support system for these distressed men, an organization member said.In spite of the suicide of the doctor from Lucknow who left behind a suicide note accusing his wife and in-laws of cruelty,no action has been taken by the police.

The group is now urging the government to start a ministry for men and also a National Commission for Men on the lines of the ones that exist for women.If there can be a government organization for women,children and even animals,we deserve to have one as well, Zaveri said.

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Indian Family Foundation (IFF) Activists protest Rakhi Sawant's remarks on International Men’s Day - Demand Men's Welfare Ministry and National Commision for Men

Indian Family Foundation (IFF) Activists protest Rakhi Sawant's remarks on International Men’s Day - Demand Men's Welfare Ministry and National Commision for Men

 

Demanding the arrest of Rakhi Sawant in connection with the recent controversy on her TV show, a group of male activists from the Indian Family Foundation (IFF) came together on International Men’s day on Friday, raised the grievances of men and spoke about the alleged misuse of women-centric laws in the country.

“If a woman was called impotent on national TV, we are sure that the National Commission for Women would have ensured that the male host was behind the bars,” says Bunty Jain, vice-president, IFF. “We are not against women but we are looking for gender neutrality in the country,” says Jain.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, in the last 12 years, 1,70,000 married men have committed suicide due to domestic violence. Reflecting upon the rising figures of suicide rates among Indian husbands, the IFF questioned this bias and demanded separate machinery to record complaints by men under cognisable offences.

Milind Chindarkar’s wife committed suicide on February 18, 2010, and it has been established in the post-mortem report that her death was due to hanging. His sister told DNA, “Our family is falsely accused in abetting her suicide. He has not been proven guilty but is undergoing imprisonment for nine months. He is not getting bail on the grounds that he might tamper with evidence once he’s out. We have lost my sister-in-law already, we are fearful of losing my brother.”

In another case, on October 3, 2008, Husain Ali Khan’s wife Alimunisa left home, and after eight months, accused the family of cruelty under section 498 (A) of the Indian Penal Code (husband or relative of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) in April 2009. She has demanded maintenance charges of Rs25,000 per month, and a flat. Khan’s sister Shaheeda says, “We hadn’t even asked her family for dowry.”

“Since laws in the country favour women, men’s trust in marriage is decreasing, giving way to live-in relationships,” says Jinesh Zaveri, activist with the IFF.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_activists-protest-rakhi-sawant-s-remarks-on-international-men-s-day_1469748

NATIONAL FAMILY HARMONY DAY - 9/11/2010, Bangalore

NATIONAL FAMILY HARMONY DAY - 9/11/2010, Bangalore

This is to bring to the notice of all about the Celebration of  NATIONAL FAMILY HARMONY DAY, like it was held last year.

This time in Bangalore "Law Minister for State Mr. Suresh Kumar" has consented to attend and witness the Programme along with 

Commissioner of Police, Bangalore City, Mr. Shankara Bidari
Member of Legislative Counsel, Mrs. S.R. Leela
Member of Legislative Assembly, Mr. Ravisubramanya
President of Women Devlopment Corporation, Mrs. Sarojini Bharadwaj
Wife of Member of Parliament Ananthkumar, Mrs. Tejaswini Ananthkumar
Renowned Psychiatrist and Scientist from NIMHANS, Bangalore, Dr. C R Chandrashekar
Folk Arts fame, from Folk Culture University, Mr.Janapada Ramanna.

There will be a  Competitional debate convention on the subject "WOMEN CANNOT WORK?... WOMEN HAS TO BE MAINTAINED BY A MAN ALWAYS?"

Around 300 women are expected to participate in the programme.

18 NGOs are supporting and taking Active participation in the Organization and Press confrence to be held on 09-11-2010, including, Akhil Bharath Hindu Maha-sabha, a political Party State Unit, and local BJP unit.

Please feel free to contact 9743183369 for further details.

with regards

R. Shivashankara

President : SAMSEVA

A survey to straighten issues! … that’s what men’s organisations in the city are now looking to conduct

Seeking to counter certain “exaggerated” claims made by some women’s organisations and in a bid to draw the attention of the government to the plight of men victimised by lop-sided laws drafted on the basis of such claims, men’s organisations in the city have now embarked upon the task of conducting a massive domestic violence survey.
   

The results of the nationwide survey, widely believed to be the first of its kind for men in the country, will be used to find out if whether Indian men too are victims of domestic violence, the percentage of Indian men subjected to such violence and the kind of violence they are subjected to.

The need for the survey has been triggered, it seems, by the controversial Domestic Violence Act - 2005, which seems to have been drafted on the assumption that only women suffer domestic violence.

Says Suresh Ram, member of the All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA), an NGO working for the rights of men and boys, “Certain women’s organisations have been stereotyping the issue of domestic violence. They have presented a picture that conveys the impression that only women are victims of domestic violence while we have with us global surveys and over 250 scholarly studies that show that women are at least as likely as men to engage in partner aggression and that partner violence is often mutual. This fact is established if one goes through the Domestic Violence Study conducted by a well known global organisation that has done the survey in over 32 countries including India. However, the Domestic Violence Act in India offers protection to only women and not men.” He further adds, “So, to set things right, we men’s organisations have joined hands to ensure that a credible and transparent survey on the issue is done.

Eight men’s organisations are involved in this effort which is being led by the AIMWA. We have begun negotiations with survey agencies to conduct the survey in certain cities of the country including Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad. We intend to publish the results on Nov 19, the International Men’s Day.” So, what do they intend to achieve by conducting such a survey? Says Suresh, “We intend to create an awareness in society about the problems faced by men. We wish to present to them the real situation in society. We will also seek to draw the government’s attention to issues concerning men and reiterate our demand for setting up a National Commission for Men and a Men’s Welfare Ministry.” Men in the city are delighted with the move by the men’s organisations.

Welcoming such a survey, Shankar, a graphics designer, says, “I certainly welcome the move. It is high time that facts were presented on this issue.” Women too seem to be for such a survey. Says Dakshayini Sampath, a media professional, “While I think that more number of women suffer domestic violence, it’s also possible that men are victims. I think the law should hold good for both genders and if this survey is going to help bring about a uniform law, then I’m all for it.”

manigandan.kr@timesgroup.com

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