A different threat

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about shocks of a wide variety. People have been largely confined to their homes; bustling public centres have turned into abandoned shells; educational classes are being offered virtually, etc. Those who were earlier finding it hard to take time out from their busy work schedules to spend a fair amount of time with their family can now enjoy the company of their loved ones even more. But there are unintended consequences as well. One aspect is the impact the prevailing situation has had on the mental health of people. There is a greater stress and anxiety in being confined. The fear of losing one’s job or livelihoods due to the lockdown can further complicate the condition.

Another critical aspect of a lockdown is that the choice is not binary for some. Victims of abuse — whether physical or mental — are now feeling that they have been locked in with their abusers. The close quarters of the confinement with an abuser could lead to greater frequency and intensity of the abuse. Women and children are especially vulnerable in our society which has a weak or no support structure for victims of domestic abuse. The curfew-like lockdowns mean that victims cannot access support communities or organisations. The closure of all non-essential services means that access to justice systems such as courts — while not completely closed — have been restricted to urgent cases only.

In such a time, it is heartening to note that the government has set up a helpline for those who may need help. There is a need to apply a gendered lens to the crisis and offer solutions accordingly. Perhaps the government can also task its volunteer ‘Tiger’ force to look for tell-tale signs of abuse to offer assistance to those who may be otherwise afraid or unaware of who to reach out to for help.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2020.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.