Every wandering bird needs a Koodu (nest) to come home to at the end of the day. ‘Ente Koodu’, a project of the Department of Social Justice, being implemented on a pilot basis in Kozhikode, is just that, a shelter where wandering women and children could stay the night. Conceived over two years ago, after the brutal attack on a child who was sleeping on the pavement at Tirur in Malappuram district, ‘Ente Koodu’ is now on the trial run phase. A first of its kind project in the country, ‘Ente Koodu’ will be extended to other districts based on the success of the project in Kozhikode.
The dilapidated old village office building in the Kasaba Police Station premises in Puthiyara has been transformed into a shelter where any woman who is alone in the city and is in need of a shelter can access. Children up to 9 years of age are also welcome at the shelter. The shelter is equipped with enough security that comes from being in the same compound as a police station. Besides, two guards as well as a house master have been appointed by the Department. The women get a bed to sleep in as well as bathroom facility. However, food is not being provided, as the number of occupants varies every day.
The Department has sought the help of the public in informing destitute women about the facility. Volunteers have been appointed at railway stations, bus stands and other places where wandering people usually halt for the night.
“Autorickshaw drivers and porters at the railway station and bus stands too act as informants besides social workers. Volunteers of ‘Because I Care’ under the Institute of Palliative Medicine are also working in the project”, said Special Officer for the project Joseph Rebello.
The occupants will be provided medical assistance as well as counselling as the situation calls for, Mr. Rebello added.
‘Ente Koodu’ serves as a screening point from where women could be referred to other establishments of the department.
“If a woman stays at the shelter continuously for a few days, we immediately check why she does not have a home and try to rectify the situation.
She could be referred to the ‘Asha Bhavan’ or similar places. If a woman is found to be mentally unstable, she could be referred to mental health centres”, said Mr.Rebello.
As for the women engaged in beggary who seek shelter at ‘Ente Koodu’, the department will make efforts to bring them to the mainstream through counselling, he said.
Help has been sought from the public in informing destitute women about the facility
