Unsettling Domestic Violence Incidence

The 121 per cent rise in domestic violence cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir during 2024–25 is not just a disturbing statistic, but a mirror held up to our collective reality. Behind these figures are shattered homes, silent suffering, and the deep erosion of trust within families. The issue goes far beyond legal definitions or institutional responses, and speaks to the growing emotional stress, social alienation, and breakdown of support systems within our society. Domestic violence is often born not only of anger or control, but of frustration, unemployment, substance abuse, and unaddressed mental health challenges that remain taboo topics. In many households, unresolved conflict, economic pressure, and a lack of dialogue turn into hostility and abuse. It is this cycle, rooted in silence and shame, that needs urgent attention. While the establishment of One Stop Centres (Sakhi) and helpline services has made it easier for victims to seek help, these mechanisms mostly intervene after the harm has occurred. Prevention, not just response, must become the central approach. Schools, community bodies, and local welfare institutions should promote communication, counselling, and early intervention before disputes turn violent. Strengthening family counselling centres at district and block levels can go a long way in diffusing tensions and rebuilding trust. It equally is important to recognise that domestic violence affects not just women, but families as a whole, children who witness abuse carry emotional scars that may shape their behaviour in adulthood. Thus, every case of domestic conflict is also a warning about the kind of society we are nurturing. Empathy, awareness, and early support must form the core of any meaningful reform. The goal should not be limited to penalising offenders but to restoring balance and emotional health within families. The rising numbers, therefore, should prompt not despair but introspection and a call to rebuild communication, compassion, and respect at home. A peaceful society begins not in the corridors of power, but in the quiet spaces of our homes, where understanding must replace fear and dialogue must replace silence.