Men stage protest on International Men's Day

Demanding a separate ministry for Men’s welfare over misuse of domestic violence laws by women, Save Family Foundation (SFF), a non-profit organization staged protest here at Jantar Mantar on International Men’s Day.

IPC section 498 A, Domestic Violence Act and Maintenance and rape laws are some of the prominent laws which have been misused time and again to harass men and their families.

While talking to TSI, founder member of SFF, Swaroop Sarkar said, “There is a need for men's welfare ministry. There is no representation for raising men's issues. Men who face false cases against them go through immense frustration and commits crime. Suicide rate of men is also increasing.”

According to the National Crime Records Bureau data, the number of married men committing suicides is nearly double than that of married women committing suicides.

“When a woman commits suicide the whole family of the husband gets arrested and cases are slapped against them. In contrary to that when a man commits suicide no action is taken against his wife or his wife's family which is indifferent,” he said.

The organisation is sending letters to President, Prime Minister and all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs to press their demand to make a separate ministry for men's welfare.

The team will also visit residences of MPs during the winter session of the parliament.

Manoj Kumar Nigam an Advocate at Tis Hazari Court, said, “All the laws have been made keeping equality in mind. But there are some loopholes which are being misused by women's families to press charges against men. There is a need for amendments in the laws to bridge these gaps and make these laws more appropriate.”

During the protest, SFF showed videos of male victims of such laws. Some of the victims were also present at the venue who shared their stories.

International Men's Day was first celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999. Since then it is being celebrated in more than 80 countries across the world every year.