INDIA: Parents could be banned from hitting children

[NEW DELHI, 31 October 2007] - The Indian government is planning to extend certain provisions of the Domestic Violence Act to make beating of children by their parents an offence, as is the case in many western countries.

The politically "progressive" move is aimed at protecting kids from being harassed by their parents. The domestic violence law, primarily meant to provide protection to the wife from violence at the hands of the husband or male partner — as also his relatives and female members — is now being extended to children.

Women and Child Development (WCD) minister Renuka Chaudhary said: "We have proposed an integrated child protection scheme under the 11th Plan. Till the time the scheme is finalised, we are likely to extend protection to children under the domestic violence law."

"After the amendment, a child facing frequent harassment at home can directly approach the protection officers appointed under the domestic violence act," said a WCD official.

Further information

pdf: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Domestic_violence_Act_may_cover...

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