KOLLAM: With crimes against women and children escalating in the state, the Social Justice Department (SJD) plans to launch two novel programmes to address the issue.
While one of them aims to bring various departments and agencies working in the area of women and child welfare under one roof, the other is expected to conduct legal awareness classes for women.
Officials said a specific budget would be allocated every financial year for the two continuing programmes, ‘Kaithangu’ and ‘Sradha’.“The SJD is on a mission to curb violence against women and children. What we found is that to do the same, we’ve to not only ensure coordination of various departments and agencies but also sensitise girls as well as women about their rights,” said SJD Director T V Anupama.
“Under the programme ‘Kaithangu’, we aim to bring together various departments and agencies operating in women and child welfare under one roof. Other than Kudumbasree members, ASHA workers, Mahila Pradhan agents, various youth clubs and residents associations will become a part of it,” she said.
The programme will be implemented on a pilot basis in 350 wards of 70 grama panchayats in the state. Five panchayats each from 14 districts will be brought under it.
“Often a lack of coordination among departments and agencies has found to be a pitfall in reaching out to the victims. Through such a programme and with the help of the task force, which will be formed along with it, we expect remarkable changes could be brought in,” said an SJD official.
Through ‘Sradha’, the SJD is embarking on an awareness campaign among teenage girls as well as women. They will be sensitised about various legal provisions including against domestic violence, dowry and sexual assaults.
Asked about it, Anupama said, “Through ‘Sradha’, we can make the girls aware about their rights. Mostly it’s ignorance about their rights that makes them prone to exploitation and assaults. As part of the programme, we’ll reach out to schools, colleges and work places. An eight-point gender sensitisation module has been prepared as part of it and we could launch it on short notice.”
The government has allocated an amount of Rs 69.80 lakh for the programmes.