Groundbreaking new law to protect Indian women

India has long been a patriarchal society and like all patriarchal societies dismissive of the rights of women. For instance, men have been allowed to rape their wives without fear of prosecution as long as she is over the age of 15. But the most common source of domestic violence has related to dowry, with in-laws beating or even killing women if they feel they have received insufficient gifts or money. A common atrocity is "stove-burning" with a woman being set on fire by her husband's family who then claim it was a kitchen accident.

Women have been defenceless in the face of this violence, fearing the shame of being divorced or separated in a traditional society, and financially dependent on their abusers with nowhere to go for help.

The new law will deal with much of this. It will provide for protection officers and groups to ensure abused women receive medical and legal aid and have safe places to stay. It will also guarantee women the right to live in the marriage home. Not only will abusers be punished, they will be responsible for their victims' medical damages and legal costs. Women will also gain a share of their abusers' property and salary. The law will apply to common-law as well as married women, and also to mothers, sisters and widows.

The law is a few millennia overdue, but congratulations to the Indian government, nonetheless.