Addressing gender-based violence in Nagaland
By Moa Jamir
The “International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women” on November 25, marked by the launch of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,” became a grim reminder of persistent issues plaguing Nagaland, often touted as the “safest place for women.” Two incidents that surfaced that day underscored the need to rethink this narrative.
At a related event in Chümoukedima, a senior official from the Social Welfare Department revealed that 350 cases of domestic violence were reported through the women’s helpline in Nagaland over the past year. Meanwhile, reports of an alleged assault on a female faculty member by a professor in Lumami, the seat of Nagaland’s only central university, also made headline.
These incidents puncture the stylised portrayal of Nagaland as a bastion of women’s safety, based on the State’s consistently low figures in the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data as well as other comparative national data.
According to the latestexisting NCRB report, “Crimes Against Women” in Nagaland dropped from 54 cases in 2021 to 49 in 2022, the lowest among Indian states. In 2020, the figure stood at 39.
Further bolstering this perception, the NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2023–24 placed Nagaland at the top of the “Gender Equality” Goal (SDG 5). The State’s percentage of ever-married women aged 18–49 years who experienced spousal violence was reported at a low 6.5%, compared to the national average of 29.2%, based on the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21).
The 350 domestic violence cases cited by the official, however, sharply contradict these figures, reflecting an alarming disparity between reported crimes and ground realities.
At a similar November 25 event in Kohima, two government functionaries questioned the accuracy of such data, arguing that perception is often misleading.An official highlighted the rising number of cases at the Women Police Station (PS) in Kohima, noting that 12 cases had already been registered by November 2023, compared to 10 in the entire previous year.
The limitations of the SDG-5 indicators must also be highlighted. While the India Index measures only “spousal violence,” the United Nations’ SDG-5 covers broader dimensions, including all forms of violence against women and girls in both public and private spheres, harmful practices like child marriage, and exploitation. These narrow framing risks overlooking significant dimensions of gender-based violence.
However, one positive development is the growing awareness and accessibility of support mechanisms. Nagaland was the first state in the North-East and the second in India to launch the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) in December 2018. The 181 (Women Helpline), and 1098 (Child Helpline) were later integrated with the system.
Yet, these advancements seem to have little impact on the NCRB data, necessitating a contextualisation. These figures rely on State-reported information, and in Nagaland, many issues are resolved informally through community-level mediation. While this suggests a robust societal mechanism, it can also discourage victims from reporting crimes and enable impunity for offenders.Furthermore, even if NCRB data are used in the SDG Index, low official reporting would ensure a better status for Nagaland. The question remains whether the upcoming NCRB report for 2023 will accurately reflect the ground-level realities highlighted during these events.
The existing dichotomy necessitates a deeper analysis. While informal interventions play a crucial role, they should not come at the cost of justice or accountability. For Nagaland to ensure genuine safety and well-being for women, it must transcend the comfort of its statistical illusion and tackle underlying systemic issues. Achieving this requires a comprehensive proactive approach, incorporating strong legal frameworks, heightened societal awareness, and greater institutional accountability, among other measures.
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