AT least 38% of Indian women in the country have been affected by violence, Tamil Nesan reported.

Quoting Deputy Women, Family and Community Affairs Minister Datuk G. Palanivel, it said most of the victims had been abused by their husbands.

He said they were ignorant of their rights and had to endure the abuses.

Palanivel, who is MIC deputy president, said this at the Violence Against Women seminar organised by Jelutong MIC at Komtar, Penang.

He said many abused women were afraid to come forward to air their complaints.

“The Government is taking action to create awareness among the women about their rights by organising seminars throughout the country,” he added.

The newspaper also reported that Yayasan Strategic Sosial was currently organising special courses for students who failed their public examinations or did not continue with secondary education.

It said many of these students got involved in social problems because of a lack of proper guidance.

Source: The Star, Malaysia, 30 May 2007