The Rising Rates of Marital Harassment in India

The Rising Rates of Marital Harassment in India – Harassment in marriages is no longer gender-specific. It is not women vs men. Both women and men are either perpetrators or victims of Marital Harassment. The relationship between wife and husband is supposed to be a lifetime-rewarding experience, but unfortunately in some cases, the span is short and becomes horrible. Irrespective of education and employment, it continues to exist in marriages. Why are marriages getting complicated?

Be it the recent murder of Karuna for 2 Lakhs additional dowry by her husband and in-laws or the recent case of a Bengaluru software professional Srikanth filing a complaint against his wife for mental and physical harassment and that she tried to kill him by attacking his private parts ignites the discussion once again.

Why the relationship between a married couple is blurring. It is still a mystery why some couples are taking their bond for granted. The answer is frustration building up and manifesting as harassment. More than love and companionship, several other external factors are entering their lives. The high expectations impacted by cultural norms, family pressures, and social media influences is also a reason. The lack of emotional, financial, and social needs play a huge role. Data says so.

According to The National Commission for Women (NCW), 28,811 crime complaints against women were registered in 2023. While this is registered complaints data, the unregistered is more than this in many ways. The National Crime Records Bureau witnessed a staggering 87% increase in incidents of crime against women from 2011 to 2021. 228,650 complaints were reported in 2011; in 2021, it rose to 428,278 reported incidents.

However, misuse of domestic violence laws like the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 498 A has seen a spike in recent years. While the number is very minimal, some women use this powerful law as a weapon to seek divorce, alimony, and revenge.

From 2015 to 2022, 3.28% of suicides among men is due to marriage-related issues. Men are also facing mental and physical harassment from their wives. Social, psychological, and cultural factors are some of the prominent reasons.

So, what is essential to keeping a marriage intact? Mutual admiration, respect, and support has a massive role in a happy marriage. The key to a successful marriage is willingness to face challenges together, along with friendship and empathy. What are your thoughts?