Marital disputes, domestic complaints top case list at Kochi vanitha cell

KOCHI: Flooded with domestic complaints, the city police appointed a civil police officer with a master's degree in social work to provide counselling to aggrieved parties and settle issues amicably. The full-time counsellor has been appointed after the vanitha cell of the city police received 545 complaints last year and 358 up to July in 2014. A majority of these complaints were related to domestic issues.
According to data provided by the police, 160 petitions received till July in 2014 were related to marital disputes. While 98 petitions were related to issues involving neighbours, the remaining 100 were related to issues between in-laws and property. In 2013, the vanitha cell received 256 complaints related to family. While 108 petitions were related to issues between in-laws, 105 involved neighbours and the remaining related to minor property disputes. The vanitha cell also took care of 74 complaints forwarded by police stations, 40 of which were related to domestic issues.
Cases were registered in six complaints in 2013 and eight in 2014 after counselling failed to solve problems. Most domestic complaints were related to alcoholism of husbands and sons, according to sources. Many men in these complaints had started consuming liquor at an early age and were of poor health. Some issues were related to drug addiction. There were also cases of bipolar disorder among both men and women. "The real cause of an issue can be identified only after several rounds of counseling. In such a situation, the service of a full-time counsellor is required," said a source. Counselling was also provided to boys and girls.
Earlier, counselling was provided by experts from non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The deputy commissioner (law and order), Kochi City, R Nishanthini, said "A good number of cases were related to minor misunderstandings and such issues can be settled by proper counselling. Complaints are forwarded to the vanitha cell after they are verified by women sub-inspectors. The service is provided only if both parties are willing."