G.O (2D) No. 23 Dated 16.2.2007 of Social Welfare Dept, Tamil Nadu

Social Welfare - Women Welfare - Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 - Appointment of Service Providers in each District – Orders – Issued.

(2) From Director of Social Welfare, Chennai-5, Letter Roc.No.53300/WW-1(5)/2006, dated 11.12.06

The Government of India in its notification dated 14.09.2005 have published "The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005". In another notification dated 17.10.2006, the Government of India have laid down the rules framed under The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 for carrying out the provisions of the Act. Both the Act and the Rules came into force with effect from 26th October 2006. The Act is basically meant to provide protection to the wife or female live in partner from violence at the hands of the husband or male live in partner or his relatives. Domestic Violence under the Act includes actual abuse or the threat of abuse, whether physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic. Harassment by way of unlawful dowry demands to the Women Victim or her relatives would also be covered under the definition of domestic violence.

2. In this connection, the Government of India have requested this Government to take immediate steps to

(i) appoint protection Officers in each Districts as per section 8 of the Act and provide them with necessary infrastructure to enable them to start functioning;

(ii) invite applications from Service Providers as per Rule 11 and register them after due verification as regards their suitability;

(iii) publish the names and address with telephone number of the Protection Officers and the Service Providers prominently in News papers and put on the website of the State Government and

(iv) give wide publicity to the provisions of the Act so that Women can avail of its benefits.

3. In the Government order first read above, the Government have issued orders appointing the District Social Welfare Officers of the Districts as Protection Officers in their respective jurisdiction as a stop-gap arrangement for the implementation of the above Act in each District to exercise their powers under the Act.

4. In the letter second read above, the Director of Social Welfare has sent proposal for appointment of Protection Officers, Service Providers and Counsellors in the Districts and has requested the Government to select representatives from among the list of Non-Governmental Organizations for appointment to the post of Service Providers in each District under Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

5. The Government after careful consideration of the proposal of Director of Social Welfare and after scrutinizing the profile in detail and interaction with the Non Governmental Organizations who have applied for appointment of Service Providers, Government selected and appoint two Service Providers in the District of Chennai and one Service Provider in each District as indicated in the Annexure to this order. The tenure period of the Service Providers are fixed for three years in the first instance. The Non Governmental Organizations selected as Service Providers are having their own qualified Counsellors.

6. The Service Providers appointed under Domestic Violence Act, 2005 shall follow the Act / Rules of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. They are requested to arrange to provide the following facilities to the aggrieved persons / victims during their needy hour as per section 3 of Rule 11 of Domestic Violence Rules, 2006:-

(iii) to provide Psychiatric / counseling facilities to the aggrieved persons / victims.

(v) to provide adequate security arrangements to the aggrieved persons/victims during their stay in the shelter home.

(vi) to provide functional telephone connection and other communication media for use of the aggrieved persons/victims.

(a) record the domestic incident report in the prescribed form if the aggrieved person to desires and forward a copy thereof to the Magistrate and the Protection Officer having jurisdiction in the area where the domestic violence took place;

(b) get the aggrieved person medically examined and forward a copy of the medical report to the Protection Officer and the police station within the local limits of which the domestic violence took place;

(c ) ensure that the aggrieved person is provided shelter in a shelter home, if she so requires and forward a report of the lodging of the aggrieved person in the shelter home to the police station within the local limits of which the domestic violence took place.

No, suit prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any service provider or any member of the Service Provider who is, deemed to be, acting or purporting to act under this Act, for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in the exercise of powers or discharge of function under this Act towards the prevention of the Commission of domestic violence.

8. The Service Providers appointed under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 shall not be provided any remuneration. But as and when they provide shelter to the victims, the charges for food and maintenance etc spent on the aggrieved persons / victims shall be reimbursed to them.

9. The Service Providers are directed to send monthly report detailing about the total number of beneficiaries benefited; whether Legal aid / counselling facilities, etc., are provided to the aggrieved persons / victims are to be sent directly to the Director of Social Welfare, Chennai.

10. The Protection Officer of each District is requested to publish the list of Service Providers in the local newspapers or on its website. She should maintain proper records by way of maintenance of Registers duly indexed, containing the details of Service Providers.

11. The Director of Social Welfare, Chennai is directed to collect the monthly report received from the Protection Officers of each District, scrutinize and watch whether the Service Provider follow the Rules / Act effectively under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005. He is also requested to send an action taken report to Government periodically every quarter. The appointment of Protection Officers exclusively for this Act will be issued in due course.

All the District Social Welfare Officers through Director of Social Welfare, Chennai-5

Sl.	District	Address
1	Kancheepuram	Christ Faith Home for Children 3/91 Mettu colony , Manapakkam Chennai 600106. Ph. No 044 – 55494647, 225220588..
2	Thiruvallur	Kalaiselvi Karunalaya Social Welfare Society, PP1, 3 rd Block Mogappair West, Chennai 600039. Ph. No26257779.
3	Vellore	Organisation for Rural Development, Murukkeri Ariyur, Vellore, Ph. No 0416 – 2271477
4	Villupuram	Bullockcart Worker Development Association 858 , East Pondy Road, Villupuram – 605 602. Ph.No.04146 – 325332.
5	Cuddalore	Sakthi Foundation, (Represented by T. Saraswathi Devi), 1, Radha Nagar, Canarapalayam , Cuddulore -1 Ph No.04142 294530.
6	Thiruvanamalai	Mass Welfare Association (MAWA), 290A, Second Street, Anna Nagar, Cheiyar – 604 407. Ph No. 914182224637.
7	Salem	Young Women's Christian Association, 76-‘A, Cherry Road, Hasthampatti, Salem- 7, Ph. No:9427 - 2312468.
8	Namakkal	Alai Youth Association , 1/38 A, Melatheru, Muttanchetty Post, Namakkal – 637 013. Ph No. 04286 – 200504.
9	Dharmapuri	Voluntary Action For Rural Development, Irrumathur PO, Via Barur , Dharmapuri District, Ph.No.04341 – 254844.
10	Krishnagiri	Bharathi Women Development Seva Sangam, 30/120, Nehru Nagar, Kalamangalam, Krishnagiri 635113 Ph No 04347 – 232794.
11	Erode	Centre for Action And Rural Education , (Care) 6 , Kambar Street, Teacher’s Colony , Erode 638 011. Ph No 0424 – 2274667
12	Coimbatore	Mariyalaya, 8/1E, 122, Kasthuri Bai Street, Thaneer Pandhal, Annuparpalayam (PO), Thirupur , Coimbatore, Pin. 641 652 Ph.No 0421 -2487957
13	Nilgiris	Saras Trust (Represented by Tmt. Vasanthakumari, Secretary) 203- B, Main Bazaar, Ooty, Ph. No 2450794
14	Trichy	Jaya Balwadi Educational society, Aravakkurichi Patti Village, Assor Post, Trichy, Pin. 620 015. Ph. 0431 – 2500223
15	Pudukkottai	OAZOANE Voluntary Institution, 94/1, Agraharam, Aranthangi , Pudukkottai - 614 616. Ph No 04371 – 270361.
16	Karur	Karur Anbukarangal , Murugan Kovil Vadappuram, Vennaimalai , Karur – 639 006. Ph.No. 04324 – 222052
17	Perambular	St. John Sangam Trust , Roever Campus, 18, Anna Salai, Perambalur – 621 212. Ph No 04328 – 277132.
18	Thanjavur	Thanjavur Multipurpose Social Service Society, Maries Cornor 12^th Stree, Arulanandhambal Nagar, Thanjavur Cell No.0442401177..
19	Nagapattinam	Avvai Village Welfare Society, 260, Public Office Road , Vlipalayam, Nagapattinam. 611 001 Ph.No.04365 – 248998.
20	Thiruvarur	Bharathi Women Development Centre, Kattur, Manakal, AyamPettai (Via) Thiruvarur, Pin 610104. Ph No 04366 – 244377.
21	Madurai	Vidiyal, 6, AA Road, Rathinapuram, Near Government Polytechnic, Madurai - 625 011. Ph. No 2675632.
22	Theni	Society Organized for Promotion of Rural, Tribal and Downtrodden (SOPORT), Thenkarai, Periyakulam – 626 501. Ph No 04546 – 231013.
23	Dindigul	Dindigul Multipurpose Social Service Society, Johnpaul Complex, Nehruji Nagar, Dindigul – 624 001. Ph. No 0451 – 2432235.
24	Sivagangai	Singampatty Grama Munnetra Sangam, 8/27, Pattinathar Street, Nattarasam Kottai, Sivagangai 630 556. Ph. No 94423 81038.
25	Ramanathapuram	S.M.S.S.S. Voluntary Organization, 3/574, Bagawathsingh Road, Paramakudi – 623 707. Ph No. 98630 02210.
26	Virudhunagar	Vasugi Mahalir Mandram, 1/183Higher Secondary School Street, Thalavaipuram, Rajapalayam Taluk, Ph.No. 98650 02210.
27	Tirunelveli	Social Service Society, Tirunelveli Samuga Seva Sangam, Tirunelveli District, Ph. No 0462 - 2578282
28	Thuthukudi	A.P.C. Veerabahu Ninaivu Arakkattalai, No. 37, Franch Chapel Road, Thuthukudi – 628 001. Ph.No.0461 – 2320507, 5531617.
29	Kanniyakumari	Mangayar Mangalam, Eraniel Road, Gandhi Nagar, Thakkalai, Kanniyakumari District. Pin 629 175, Ph.No.044 33 75586.
30	Chennai	Vishranthi, 1, Sapthagiri Apartment, 88, T.T.K. Road, Alwarpet, Chennai – 600 018. Ph.No.24490972. Mahalir Satta Udhavi Mandram, Affiliated to All India Domestic Women's Association, No 13, Mosque Street, Chennai – 6000 005. Ph No 28511231.