COMPLAINTS of economic violence against women have, as statistics with the National Helpline Centre for Violence against Women and Children suggest, increased for four years, with 460,358 calls having been received in 2024, which account for more than a half of all the calls, 939,700, in connection with violence against women of any forms received that year. The helpline, which was set up in June 2012 under a programme of the women and children affairs ministry to connect victims with appropriate authorities for a resolution, in 2021 received 268,291 calls seeking help in economic violence, suggesting that such complaints 鈥� and, in effect, the actual violence 鈥� have nearly doubled in four years. The number of such calls was 452,677 in 2023 and 306,660 in 2022. The number of economic violence complaints, however, reached 479,851 in 2020, which could well be because of the Covid-induced lockdown period. The calls that the helpline centre received in 2024 also included 61,595 complaints of physical assault, 38,547 of mental torture, 898 of sexual assault and 865 of child marriage. The centre has also received 3,77,401 additional calls that primarily sought information on issues such as alimony, divorce proceedings and legal aid.
Economic violence, an act or behaviour that causes economic harm to individuals, is said to be a common form of violence against women. Such violence, which is mostly non-physical but could accompany physical assault, mental torture or other forms of abuse, is rooted in gender inequality that is reinforced by traditional gender norms where perpetrators use economic control, economic sabotage and economic exploitation against the victims, often in the context of intimate relationship. The consequences of economic violence, or financial abuse, are far-reaching as the victims could experience poverty, homelessness, debt and bankruptcy. They could experience anxiety, depression, stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. They could also experience malnutrition and poor health. They may find it difficult to maintain a social life. The victim鈥檚 children could be harmed. And, the victims could be negatively impacted in their economic growth. Whilst the ministry is reported to be working with the help of the World Bank to develop a management information system, expected to be completed by the end of the year, on gender-based violence to know of the situation on the ground, the government would need to take a layered approach, on a number of fronts, to stop economic crimes against women.
Whilst the government should know the data to know more of it and improve coordination between agencies, it should create the awareness of the crime of economic violence against women, arrange for counselling for the victims and their children. It should end gender inequality and establish women鈥檚 rights to property and economic resources to ensure their economic security and potential for self-sufficiency. The government should enact legislation, work out polices and take action plans to end economic violence against women. It should also spend money on programmes that support survivors and their children.
