Srinagar| WTNS | Nov 02: The number of domestic violence cases in Jammu and Kashmir has more than doubled in the past year, marking a staggering 121 percent increase in reported incidents, according to government data released on Thursday.

By Agha Syed Amin Musvi | Wilayat Times

In a statement to the Legislative Assembly, Sakina Itoo, the Minister for Social Welfare, said that 2,872 cases were registered at the One Stop Centres for Women and on the Mission Shakti dashboard over the last two fiscal years. Of these, 893 cases were filed in 2023–24, while 1,979 were recorded in 2024–25, underscoring a deepening crisis in gender-based violence across the region.

“The figures reflect both an alarming rise in violence and a growing willingness among women to come forward,” Ms. Itoo told lawmakers, responding to a question from Shamim Firdous, an MLA from the National Conference.

The One Stop Centres, locally known as Sakhi Centres, have been operational since 2018 under the Directorate of Mission Shakti. They offer a range of services like medical care, psychosocial counselling, legal assistance, temporary shelter, and coordination with law enforcement.

The centres are also integrated with toll-free helplines 181 (Women Helpline) and 112 (Emergency Response Support System) to ensure round-the-clock support.

Officials say the surge may partly reflect improved reporting mechanisms, but they also warn that social stress, unemployment, and economic strain are intensifying domestic conflicts.

“Behind every statistic is a story of trauma,” said a senior official in the Social Welfare Department, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “These women are not just numbers but they are survivors fighting for dignity and safety.”

Activists working in the field say the data points to both progress and peril. “Awareness has grown, but so has the anger and frustration within households,” said a counsellor at a Sakhi Centre in Srinagar. “Many women still fear backlash if they report abuse.”

Women’s rights advocates are calling for stronger rehabilitation programs, faster legal recourse, and community-based interventions to confront the root causes of domestic violence.

As the figures ripple through the public discourse, experts warn that Jammu and Kashmir faces not just a law-and-order issue, but a social reckoning.

“When violence becomes the silence of homes,” said one activist, “society itself begins to unravel.”