Harassed husbands unite against wives

JAIPUR: For ages, it’s been the women who have been silent sufferers. But today, it is men who are crying hoarse about their “tormenting” wives. And these harassed husbands have now come together in Jaipur to form Sangya Balya, an organisation meant to save them from their abusive spouses.

This unique organisation will provide sympathetic and legal aid to the stressed husbands. The organisation has already received over 650 complaints since its establishment four months ago. The centre has two legal advisors.

“Inspired by a similar organisation in Bangalore, I decided to start this centre in the city. Husbands who are victims at the hands of their wives can be found everywhere,” Abhishek, one of the organisation’s founders, said.

“Almost 95 per cent of the cases here are about wives either demanding money after divorce, or a share in their husband’s property,” Abhishek, who only uses his first name, added.

He also said several wives just demand separation and not divorce, so that their husbands will not be able to settle their affairs ever again. A harassed husband  said this organisation will be a real help, as husbands are usually blamed for all wrong-doings.

“My wife has sought a divorce from me just because I couldn’t tolerate the increasing intervention by my in-laws. When I asked them to reconsider the decision, I was threatened to be sued for demanding dowry and torturing my wife, which I never did,” says Prakash, another victim. However, Sangya Balya has earned brickbats as well.

“A woman can never create problems for her husband. When a woman tries to maintain her own distinctiveness, she is labelled a rebel. If you compare the statistics of atrocities on women and atrocities by women, things will become crystal clear,” said Deepa Joshi, a women’s activist and a college lecturer.