In 2022, the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), undertook a research project to set up a Centre of Excellence. This project, funded by the Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD, Government of Karnataka), aims to address the issue of violence perpetrated against women and aid in understanding, preventing, and reducing its impact.
Women-centric services in Karnataka, such as the Women Help Line, One Stop Centres, Santhwana Centres run by NGOs, and others, are already working to support women. However, their sustained efforts have not mitigated all challenges in adequate measure as women continue to face violence and discrimination in all domains of life–social, professional, domestic, etc. In the purview of these deficiencies, the Government of Karnataka has identified the need for a Centre of Excellence, which can not only guide existing services but also devise a plan for improved and focused policy solutions. The Centre will strive to investigate and understand Karnataka’s specific problems in a nuanced and systemic way. It will combine training, research, and policy with an interdisciplinary approach to come up with modules, models of services, and progressive programs to combat violence against women.
It is important to set up such a Centre for Excellence that can guide all government agencies in implementing laws, which promise protection and justice to women. Once support is institutionalised and made a part of the system, justice may no longer be a distant dream for women facing violence.
Project Overview
The project aims to aid the Karnataka State Government in achieving development indicators of gender justice and equality. Various support systems established by the government work round the clock to protect women from different kinds of violence. But these mechanisms can deliver meaningful services only if they get timely guidance, training, and resource support.
While NIMHANS has adopted an intersectional approach to particularly focus on providing mental health and psychosocial support to women facing violence; the Centre for Women and the Law at NLSIU is working to feed their findings into policy with the hope of driving innovative and efficient programs and making justice accessible for women in Karnataka.
Main components
Research under the project will involve organised brainstorming sessions to develop the methodology for data collection and the training of various functionaries who provide relief to women facing violence. The main components of the project include:
- Collecting data and identifying gaps
- Developing training modules
- Training stakeholders working for the state government towards implementing laws against violence on women
- Assisting in legal counselling
- Collating inputs for policy documents on areas covered in the modules
Duration
This is a 3-year project that started in 2023. The research began in earnest in 2024 and is likely to continue into 2026.
Resources
The project has developed two training modules. These include a module for stakeholders working on the issue of acid attack and another one on the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. These are currently under review and yet to be finalised. The Centre will also present a comprehensive field report.
NLSIU Team
1) Dr. Sarasu Esther Thomas
Professor of Law and Co-coordinator (CoE Project), CWL, NLSIU
Email:
Prof Sarasu is currently on lien from NLS as she has taken over as the Director, Manipal Law School. Bengaluru.