ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act was introduced in the year 2005 with the purpose of providing protection of the rights of women guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. It has been nearly sixteen years since the inception of the Act. This thesis aims to explore the landmark legislation by examining the implementation of the Act through the legal as well as social spheres in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal. The aim is to examine the complexities resting at the yoke of marital relationships and how a stigmatized society renders it difficult for a woman to feel safe in what is eternally described to her as her own home. The thesis also talks about how the implementation of the Act in the study area depends on the socio-cultural nuances. The key stakeholders to the Act were interviewed to understand their perspectives on the law and the challenges faced by them while approaching the law enforcement, or while addressing the violence inflicted on the complainant. The paper concludes by providing recommendations on a roadmap to proper implementation of the act after talking to the stakeholders directly involved in the implementation.
KEY WORDS- Domestic Violence, aggrieved women, PWDV Act, Intimate Partner Violence, Bourdieusian Theory, Ecological framework.
