Recognising Economic Abuse

What economic abuse looks like - controlling money, blocking work or taking assets - how Indian law recognises it, and where to get help.

Economic abuse is when someone controls another person’s ability to acquire, use or keep money and resources. It often accompanies other forms of domestic abuse.

Signs of economic abuse

Controlling all money, giving only small allowances with demands to justify every expense.
Preventing work or education.
Taking salary or benefits.
Taking stridhan or property.
Running up debts in the victim’s name.
Hiding financial information.
Refusing to pay for basic needs.

Why it matters

Economic abuse makes it harder to leave an abusive relationship, since the victim may have no money, account or income.

Indian law

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 explicitly includes economic abuse, such as depriving a woman of resources she’s entitled to, or disposing of her assets. Remedies include:

Monetary relief.
Residence orders protecting her right to live in the shared household.
Protection orders.

Getting help

Women’s helpline: 181 in many states.
National Commission for Women and state commissions.
Protection officers under the Domestic Violence Act.
Legal aid services.

Building protection

Keep some savings and documents safely.
Know your bank accounts and passwords.
Keep copies of ID and important documents.

The confiscated salary

A woman's husband takes her entire salary each month and gives her a small allowance. She reaches out to a legal aid service, learns this counts as economic abuse under the law, and gets help opening a separate account.

Thinking abuse must be physical to count

Indian law recognises economic abuse as a form of domestic violence.

Key takeaways

Economic abuse controls a person's access to money and resources.
It can make leaving abusive relationships harder.
India's 2005 Domestic Violence Act includes economic abuse.
Help is available through helplines, commissions and legal aid.