KOZHIKODE: Victims of domestic violence will soon have shelter homes exclusively for them, as per the government order issued for the same. Till now, the victims were housed in shelter homes under the Social Justice Department. `1.47 crore has been allotted for the project to help the women and their children, whosuffer under abusive husbands and in-laws.Since the scheme is aimed at speedy implementation, the department has entrusted it with Social Welfare Board, said Social Justice Department director V N Jithendran. “Once the department directly moves to realise the project, it should have buildings of its own. Then again, the construction will take nearly two years or so, which would result in the delay of the project. Now that the project has been entrusted with Social Welfare Board, they have given notification in the media and applications are coming from different districts,” he said.
The project comes at a time when crimes registered against domestic violence and dowry deaths hit a high in the state. This year, up to May alone, eight women lost their lives owing to dowry relatedincidents and 2,098 cases have been registered under the domestic violence Act.Each district will have one shelter home each to house the women and their children. Around 25 to 30 members can be accommodated in the first stage.
Each home will have one superintendent/manager, counsellor, office assistant cum data entry operator and two watchmen/peons. Along with providing shelter to these women, they will also ensure medical support as well as skills-development for the victims.
“We are looking into the possibility of setting up skill development centres on the premises of shelter homes, to rehabilitate the victims. Organisations that have a history of running shelter homes will be considered for running the homes in the state,” said Social Welfare Board member secretary Dr Philipose.
“They can run the home on their own or in hired buildings,” he added. Service from the already existing service providing centres (SPCs) will be used for medical help for the inmates of the homes. Advocates in SPCs will offer them free legal service to proceed their cases in court, said Dr Philipose.