MADURAI: A State-level NGO network consultation meeting which was conducted in Madurai today on ‘domestic violence prevention and policy dialogue’ is soon coming out with a set of recommendations to be submitted to the Tamil Nadu government for safety and protection of women through effective field-level intervention.
This initiative was taken up by ‘Arogya Agam’, a voluntary organisation based at Andipatti in Theni district by holding the south zone meeting here on November 3rd 2026 with participation of representatives from various NGOs to chalk out collective action towards prevention of domestic violence and ensuring the rights of women.
“The National Family Survey report says that 28 per cent of women in Tamil Nadu are suffering due to domestic violence and many of them are silently facing torture and abuse at home. Today’s interaction with stakeholders and NGOs is to get right insights and give a report to Social Welfare Department, police and to government authorities on the gaps and challenges,” Ms.Elamathi Arul, secretary and honorary director of ‘Arogya Agam’ has said in her interaction at today’s meeting along with Programme Manager Mr.R.Tamilanban who had appealed for setting up of special courts in all districts to deal with domestic violence cases.
SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS TO GOVT:
The NGOs consultation meeting in Madurai today has strongly felt that there is an immediate need to create a larger awareness about the Domestic Violence Prevention Act 2005 and how the provisions of this Act will help the women in times of emergency.
“Sharing of experiences at field level gave us an idea to prepare a comprehensive report at State-level and give concrete recommendations to the government. Easy access to legal aid, quick response from police for DV (domestic violence) complaints in rural and urban areas, speeding up the existing DV cases in courts, strengthening of 181 emergency helpline and the possibility of using ‘108 ambulance service’ for domestic violence incidents by the affected women and faster justice for women are some of the points that came up for discussion from the field level NGO representatives who came from various districts,” Ms.Elamathi Arul, who is also a member of Child Welfare Committee, has said.
Mr.R.Tamilanban has said that ‘Arogya Agam’ has been working since 1982 as a NGO and it had put focus on prevention of domestic violence, and it could solve 1,744 cases last year alone with the help of local police and community support.
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