Kudumbashree to help check polygamy

KOZHIKODE: The Kasargod district administration has decided to seek the assistance of Kudumbashree mission to campaign against the increasing cases of polygamy in the district which leads to domestic violence on women.  The members of Kudumbashree Ayalkoottam and gender coordinators will take the anti-polygamy messages to the grassroots level.

“The practice session meant for Kudumbashree members,  ADS and  CDS chairpersons to be held in August will provide tips against polygamy. This is exclusive to Kasargod considering the social scenario of the district,” said  C.A. Abdul Majeed, the district coordinator of Kudumbashree.

As the district bordering Karnataka, there are several cases of young women being victimised after being married off to elder men in Karnataka. By the time the parents of the bride come to know that the groom has another wife in his native place, it is too late.

Since April, the woman protection cell of Kasargod has received 32 applications seeking financial aid provided to victims under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

“Of the 32 cases, four are women who were married off to men in  Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The summons we sent to the husbands in the cases  returned as the address itself was wrong,” says  P. Sulaja, district women protection officer. According to social worker Nidheesh P.J., there are umpteen Mysore marriage- like cases which have gone unreported.

“There are agents targeting the girls of the poor families. Even if the girl and her family come to know about the polygamy, they have no choice but to go on. It is at the extreme stage only a few come up with complaints,” says  Nidheesh.