Model Answer

Recent incidents involving intimate partner violence, dowry deaths, honour killings, stalking and crimes in live-in relationships indicate that changing social norms are reshaping family relationships. This raises questions about the social roots of such crimes.

Changing Social Relationships -

1. Changing aspirations have altered relationship expectations; e.g., rising aspirations for equality often clash with traditional patriarchal roles.
2. Urbanisation and individualism have weakened traditional social regulation; e.g., migration has reduced community oversight and family support systems.
3. Acceptance of pre-marital relationships has increased new social challenges; e.g., crimes involving coercion, blackmail and revenge pornography.

Structural Social Factors -

1. Patriarchal attitudes continue to fuel gender-based violence; e.g., dowry deaths and marital cruelty remain widespread despite legal safeguards.
2. Honour and caste norms often override individual autonomy; e.g., honour killings against inter-caste or inter-faith couples.
3. Poor emotional and conflict-resolution skills escalate domestic disputes; e.g., increasing cases of intimate partner violence after marital conflicts.

Emerging Societal Concerns -

1. Digital platforms have intensified relationship-based crimes; e.g., cyberstalking, morphing and non-consensual sharing of private content.
2. Weak mental health support aggravates interpersonal conflicts; e.g., unresolved stress contributing to violent behaviour within families.

Way Forward -

1. Strengthen value-based and gender-sensitive education through schools, colleges and community programmes to promote respectful relationships.
2. Expand counselling, family mediation and legal support mechanisms; e.g., One Stop Centres, Family Counselling Centres and women's helplines.

Addressing relationship-based crimes requires balancing legal enforcement with social reform, gender justice and value-based education to build healthier interpersonal relationships.