The plan to set up a short-stay accommodation facility for women at KSRTC complex remains only on paper. Though an amount of Rs 30.56 lakh was sanctioned for construction activities, the project remains a non-starter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: More than being the capital district, Thiruvananthapuram’s distinctiveness lies in having the power centre Secretariat and being a home to numerous government offices and institutions. For the same reason, the district each day has thousands of people from other parts of the state arriving here for various reasons.
Taking note of the hardships they face, especially women, in finding short-stay accommodation facilities, it was a year ago that the Social Justice Department pitched the idea of a ‘One Day Home’ at the eighth floor of KSRTC Bus Terminal Thampanoor with the support of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
However, the project is still in limbo due to the lackadaisical attitude of authorities concerned. “It was with the aim to provide short-stay accommodation facilities for women that a project of this kind was mooted,” said an officer with the Social Justice Department.
Though it was first conceptualized in March 2008, it didn’t take off. Then last May, highlighting the need for such a facility, the Social Justice Director wrote to the government and an administrative sanction was secured. But, it is learnt that even though an amount of Rs 30.56 lakh was sanctioned for the construction activities, the very project remains as a non-starter.
“A lot of women and girls arrives at the Thiruvananthapuram district for various reasons. While some visits here for attending interviews and competitive or entrance examinations, some others visits might be personal. The concept was such that even if they arrive at odd hours, we could provide them with accommodation and food at cheap rates,” said R Geetha Gopal, chairperson, Welfare Standing Committee, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
According to her, while the reasons for the delay is unknown.The Corporation is planning to set up a She Lodge near Corporation’s Working Women’s Hostel at Sreekanteswaram.
Earlier, it was during a meeting convened by the Planning Board, Social Justice Department and Kudumbasree in last August that the decision to launch a joint initiative called She Lodge was taken.
The project that aims to provide safe lodging and food at moderate rates for students and women travelling to cities for various requirements, has to be set up and maintained by the local self-government bodies. It was then decided that the proposed She Lodge will be run by Kudumbasree members.