As part of the efforts to have some sections of Indian law changed, activists fighting for men’s rights launched ‘Selfie in Prison’ Twitter campaign to draw attention to the cause.

Working under the banner of Save Indian Family (SIF), a non-governmental organisation that helps men who have been wrongfully implicated in dowry harassment, domestic violence and rape cases, the activists said they hoped the campaign would draw attention and prepare men should they be at the receiving end of law in such cases.

SIF members visit Golconda prison

Around 30 SIF members in Hyderabad visited the historic Golconda prison to take selfies as part of the campaign.

Uma Challa, an SIF member, explained that lack of legal and social support systems force married men to commit suicide.

“The number of married men committing suicide is twice the number of married women. Our studies have shown that boys are pressurised a lot to perform well and take all the responsibility. This pressure is transferred onto them even during adulthood and when they falter, there is not much support available,” she said, adding that the reason for a large number of men to commit suicide last year could be attributed to false implication under sections of law which are not gender neutral.

Ms. Challa said that the existing laws also do not benefit women as cases take several years to conclude and genuine victims are made to wait for years for justice, even as innocent men spend years in prison before acquittal. Citing National Crime Records Bureau data, she said over 40,000 men of the 3.9 lakh arrested in 2013 are under-trails of which a substantial number may have been implicated falsely.

Activists of Save Indian Family launch a Twitter campaign to help men who are wrongly implicated in dowry harassment, domestic violence and rape cases