Domestic Violence Against Women in Khalanga VDC of Darchula District, Nepal

Abstract

This research is the case study of “DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN in Khalanga VDC of Darchula Distric, Nepal”.The main objective of this study is to assess the knowledge and awareness of women on domestic violence, to examin the knowledge of women on legal provision and community action on domestic violence and to identify causes of domestic violence. This study is mainly based on primary data as well as secondary data. There are200 house hold and 2000 population in the selected ward and among them 150 respondents have been surveyed. The study was conducted in one squatter settlement. This study area was selected purposively and availability of respondents. The researchers have taken 150 respondents for purpose. The study populations consists of currently married women, widow and divorce/separated aged 15-49 years. Highest proportions of women interviewed are of age groups 25-29 years, followed by 15-19 years which is in intermediate age groups. According to field survey of squatter settlement the incidents of domestic violence occur in highly intermediate ages than younger and older ages. Among 150 respondents 21.3 percent, are from Brahmin caste, followed by Chhetri 18.0 percent, Hill janajati 14.6 percent, Rajbansi/kamat 18.6 percent, Hill Dalit 15.3 and Madeshi Dalit 12.0 percent, i.e, 73.3 percent are married women, 14.7 percent are Divorced/separated women and 12.0 percent are widow women. According to the field survey, most of the respondents are living in small family. Among 150 respondents, most of the respondents are involved in household works. According to field survey the status of awareness level of women’s legal rights and social and community-based organization is poor. Most of the respondents share their relatives for the sake of prestige. According to opinion of respondents the cause of domestic violence is misunderstanding, unemployment, and alcohol, gambling, not able to work and marital problems. For support of victims, majority of respondents give emphasis on awareness rising and counseling and family mediation. Different respondents said different solution to prevent domestic violence, 49.3 percent said awareness, 38.7 percent said improved women’s status, 2.0 percent said punished perpetrators and 10.0 percent said others.