UNITED WE STAND - Law not on our side, say moms-in-law

 

It is a role reversal of sorts, but the victims here say the harassment they face is all too real. Mothers-inlaw in the city who say they have been harassed and hounded by their daughtersin-law have come together to fight the injustice that is being inflicted on them.

Members of the Akhila Bharatha Atteyara Sangha, or forum for mothers-inlaw, who held their first meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday, say laws that have been promulgated to protect women are now being used against them. The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, they feel, is being misused by many women to harass their husbands and families.

"Daughters-in-law are filing false cases simply to get back at us for minor issues at home," says Janaki Srinivas, forum member. "In such instances, the police almost always takes the side of the wife. Police officers do not even enquire to determine what the actual case is."

The association, founded less than two weeks ago to create awareness on harassed mothers-in-law, already has around 60 members.

"Baseless allegations by daughters-in-law against their husbands and mothersin law are on the rise," notes forum president C. Rajeshwari. "This has led to an increase in suicides among husbands and their family members as a result of the embarrassment caused by the allegations."

The forum has called for amendments to relevant laws so complaints of harassment by wives are thoroughly investigated.

Source : http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCB/2009/09/14/ArticleHtmls/14_09_2009_002_009.shtml?Mode=1