News Coverage

(Translated from Telugu to English)

Saakshi Newspaper - 3 October
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Following Gandhi's path...

Non-Violence Day Celebrations in every town
Rallys against Domestic Violence

(A FULL PAGE article. First 3 reports are on activities on the theme "Stop Violence Against Women and Children", and then contrasting report).

Domestic Violence is not a gender issue

Sundarayya Vignyana Kendram, Newsline: "Domestic Violence is not a gender issue. Along with women, men and children are also victims of domestic violence", said Challa Uma, President of All India Forgotten Women and Kirshna Prasad, Representative of Save Indian Family Foundation. They spoke at a Press Conference held on Friday at the Basheerbagh Press Club. "Organizations which make a big hue and cry about domestic violence against women treat domestic violence against men as something to be amused about" they criticized. They expressed concern that there are close to 15 laws in our country to address domestic violence against wives but there is not even one law to address domestic violence against husbands. They said that in order to spread awareness about how domestic violence has been commercialized and how laws that have been introduced in the name of protection have gone awry, they are observing this month as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" and conducting various events. They said that they are launching an "All India Men's Welfare Association" on the 11th of this month and an "Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association" on the 18th of this month. They said that they were going to observe 25th October as Black Day and conduct a Nationl Rally in Bangalore. They said that each and every person should make efforts in order to save the Indian family system. Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting representative, Parthasarathy and Rishtey represrentative Satish Reddy also participated in the event.

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Vaartha Newspaper - 3 October
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October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Saifabad, October 2 Prabhaata Vaartha

On the occasion of International Day of Non-Violence, a number of NGOs have declared that they are going to conduct "Domestic Violence Awareness Month - India - 2009" throughout the month of October, all over the country.

Respresentatives of these organizations said that this year, for the first time, India is joining hands with International men's rights and fathers' rights organizations to conduct this event. Speaking at a Press Conference held at the Basheerbagh Press Club on Friday, Uma Challa (All India Forgotten Women), Krishna Prasad (Save Indian Family Foundation), Satish Reddy (Rishtey), and Parthasarathy (Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting) announced that they are launching the event today. They said that they are launching an All India Men's Welfare Association, a national level organization, on October 11, in order to provide protection to men and boys against gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse. They said that, on the 18th, they are organizing a cultural program to spread awareness on the truth about domestic violence, and also launching the Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association (APMPA) to protect mothers-in-law from social discrimination, domestic violence, misuse of laws against them, and other forms of abuse. They said that they will be observing 25 October as Black Day and conducting a National Rally in Bangalore on the occassion of the third anniversary of the inhuman, ill-conceived Domestic Violence Act. They alleged that Indian laws against domestic violence are irrational and discriminatory and violate the provisions of the Indian Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They demanded that every accused person should be treated innocent until proven guilty in compliance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They said that according to Article 21 of the Indian Constitution "no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law", and expressed concern that every year, over 1 lakh innocent persons (one innocent person every 5 minutes) are arrested under IPC Section 498A, including 4,000 innocent senior citizens (one innocent elderly person every 2.5 hours) and 350 children (one child per day) without evidence or investigation.

They said that The Universal Declaration of Human rights states that “all are equal before the law, and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law", and urged the Government to treat all citizens as equals and provide equal protection under law according to Article 14 of the Indian constitution.They demanded that laws should be same for men and women.

(Right below this article is an article about violence against women).

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Surya Newspaper - 3 October
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Domestic Violence laws violate human rights

Nampally, Major News: A number of people opined that Indian laws against domestic violence are irrational and discriminatory, and violate provisions of the Indian Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A conference, Domestic Violence Awareness Month -India - 2009, was held on Friday at the Basheerbagh Press Club under the aegis of Save Indian Family and a number of other NGOs. On this occasion, Uma Challa - President of All India Forgotten Women, Parthasarathy - Hyderabad Co-ordinator of Rishtey and Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting, Krishna Prasad - Chairperson of Save Indian Family Foundation said that women have 16 laws whereas men do not have any laws, that laws should provide equal protection for men and women, and that law should be the same for everyone. They said that Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2009 is being launched on October 2 by national and international men's and parents' rights groups. On the occasion of the International Day of Non-Violence, the NGOs said that they are conducting the campaign for two reasons - to spread awareness on the truth about domestic violence and Indian domestic violence laws, and to urge lawmakers and the Government to reform the present discriminatory laws, and make gender-neutral provisions for the benefit of men, women, children, families and the society.

(Right below this is an article about violence against women).

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Andhra Prabha Newspaper - 3 October
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"We Will Observe October As Domestic Violence Awareness Month"

Hyderabad, October 2 (KNN): All India Forgotten Women President, Challa Uma, Save India Family Foundation representative, Krishna Prasad, and Children's Rights Initiative For Shared Parenting representative, Parthasarathy, said that they will be observing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. They participated in a Press Conference held on Friday at the Basheerbagh Press Club under the aegis of Save Indian Family Foundation, All India Forgotten Women, Rishtey and Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting. Speaking on this occassion they said that their month-long campaign will focus on educating the Indian public about how many lies have been spread on the issue of domestic violence, how domestic violence has been commercialized, and how Indian laws claiming to prevent domestic violence are actually promoting domestic violence and human rights abuses against men, women and children.

They said that along with women, men and children are also victims of domestic violence. They said that women's organizations are spreading myths about domestic violence, and that according to their propaganda, men are always the aggressors and women are always the victims. Owing to the fact that men are not given protection from domestic violence, every year, over 56,000 married men commit suicide due to emotional, economic and physical abuse. As if this is not enough, in the last four years alone, over 1,23,497 women have been arrested under IPC Section 498A alone, without evidence or investigation, only because they were related to a man.

They said that domestic violence has become an industry thanks to women’s organizations, law enforcement machinery, legal fraternity, politicians and bureaucrats. In an effort to save the Indian family system, events will be conducted all through the month, including the launch of All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA) on the 11th of this month for protection of men and boys against gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse, launch of Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association (APMPA) on the 18th of this month for protection of mothers-in-law against discrimination, domestic violence, legal harassment and other forms of abuse, cultural programs, and a National Rally in Bangalore on October 25, marking the third anniversary of the Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA) as BLACK DAY.

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Andhra Bhoomi Newspaper - 3 October
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Awareness Meets On "Domestic Violence"

Nallakunta, October 2: Representatives of four NGOs have announced that they will be conducting awareness meets to enlighten the public on the issue of Domestic Violence. Speaking at a Press Conference held at the Basheerbagh Press Club on Friday, All India Forgotten Women President, Challa Uma, Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting Co-ordinator, Parthasarathy, Save Indian Family Foundation Co-ordinator, Krishna Prasad, Rishtey President,
Satish Reddy said that on the occasion of International Day of Non-Violence they are organizing a month-long awareness program.

They said that several organizations will be observing Black Day on the 25th of this month, in Bangalore, on the occasion of the third anniversary of introduction of the Domestic Violence Act. They said that they are conducting a National Rally against the inhuman Domestic Violence Act. They declared that they will be launching an All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA) on the 11th of this month for protection of men and boys against gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse. They said that they will be conducting a special cultural program on the 18th of this month to educate the public about the misuse of the Domestic Violence Act.They said that they will be doing a massive flyer campaign for a month.

(Right beside this article is an article about violence against women).

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Prajaa Sakti Newspaper - 3 October
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Domestic Violence Law Neglects Men's Rights

Prajaa Sakti, Alwal: Challa Uma, President of All India Forgotten Women, stated that the Domestic Violence Law neglects men's rights. She spoke at the Press Conference held at the Basheerbagh Press Club on Friday. She spoke against the Domestic Violence Law, and said that the law is causing harm. She stated that men and children are also victims of domestic violence. She stated the women commit domestic violence as often as men do. She said that 26th October will be observed as Black Day. She said that they are conducting activities to spread awareness on domestic violence all through the month. Members of the organization Parthasarathy and Krishan Prasad participated in the event.

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Andhra Jyothi Newspaper - 3 October
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Awareness Programs on Domestic Violence

Barkatpura, October 2 (Online): Representatives of four NGOs announced that they will be conducting various activities for a month to spread awareness among people about the domestic violence law. Save Indian Family Foundation Coordinator, Krishna Prasad, All India Forgotten Women President, Challa Uma, Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting Coordinator, Parthasarathy, Rishtey representative, Satish Reddy spoke at a press conference held on Friday at the Basheerbagh Press Club. They said that on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Domestic Violence Act, they will be conducting month-long public awareness programs beginning 2 October. They said that they would be observing the 25th of this month as Black Day and that several NGOs will be organizing a protest in Bangalore on that day. They said that they will be launching an All India Men's Welfare Association on the 11th of this month to protect men and boys from gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse. They said that they will be conducting special cultural activities on the 18th of this month to help people understand the truth about domestic violence.

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Eenadu Newspaper - 3 October
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Awareness on Domestic Violence Laws

Basheerbagh, October 2 (Newstoday): Save Indian Family Foundation, All India Forgotten Women, Rishtey and Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting alleged that domestic violence laws are promoting violence against men and children and human rights abuses. They said that they will be conducting various activities for a month with the goal of spreading awareness among the people about domestic violence laws. They launched the campaign on Friday. Subsequently, representatives of the above organizations, Challa Uma, Parthasarathy, Krishna Prasad and Satish Reddy participated and spoke in a Press Conference organized at the Desoddharaka Bhavan. They said that they would be launching an All India Men's Welfare Association on the 11th of this month to provide protection to men and boys against gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse. They said that they would be conducting a cultural program on the 18th of this month. They said that they will be launching an Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-Law Protection Association to protect mothers-in-law from social discrimination, legal terrorism and other forms of abuse. They said that they will be observing the 25th of this month as Black Day and conducting a National Dharna in Bangalore.

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News from other cities

Nagpur
http://www.saveindianfamily.org/about-us/siff-news/784-2009-10-02-15-50-19.html

Chandigarh
http://www.saveindianfamily.org/about-us/siff-news/782-harassed-men-kin-to-hit-streets.html

Lucknow
http://www.saveindianfamily.org/about-us/siff-news/779-2009-10-02-03-24-41.html

Bangalore:
http://www.saveindianfamily.org/about-us/siff-news/772-harassed-hubbies-go-gandhian.html