Although marriage is said to be a sacred institution, the alarming numbers of spousal violence in India have another story to convey. A statistics of National Family Health Survey, suggests that nearly 29 per cent of married women in the country faced spousal violence in 2015-16.
The figure is indeed alarming and raises several concerns over the safety of women in wedlock. Notably, such cases are highly widespread in Manipur, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. But other major states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and even Chattisgarh are no less.
If we observe the data state wise, Manipur tops the list with 53.1 per cent cases of spousal violence against women in 2015-16. Other states where spousal violence against women is extensive includes Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. While Bihar saw 43.2 per cent of such cases, 43.2 per cent were reported from Andhra Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh and Chattisgarh have witnessed almost similar percentage of spousal violence with both the state reporting nearly 38 per cent of such cases.
Besides, Madhya Pradesh with 33 per cent, Chattisgarh with 36 per cent and Odisha with 33 per cent are also not safe for married women. While Rajasthan witnessed 25 per cent of such cases, Gujarat saw 21 per cent and Maharashtra 21 per cent.
