Nirbhaya shelter homes to get better facilities

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nirbhaya shelter homes, the rehabilitation centres for survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking, would soon get better facilities. A government order in this regard has been issued, which calls for salary hike of staff members, recruitment of more employees and improvement of amenities. Also, plans are afoot to set up one more shelter home in Kollam.
The fund allocation for the homes has been hiked to Rs 24.45 lakh per annum from the current Rs 14.45 lakh per annum.
However, according to Nibhaya home authorities, the homes require Rs 23 lakh year (in addition) to be at par with Nibhaya homes at national-level.
After the revised pay scale comes into force, the staff and social workers will get Rs 12,000 per month (as against Rs 10,000), full-time resident warden will be paid Rs 13,250 (at present, it is Rs 10,850) and salary of security staff will be Rs 7,500 (as against Rs 5,000) per month. There will be no hike in the salary of house manager (Rs 18,000), which is the same as what is paid to house managers at national-level.
There are 11shelter homes in the state with more than 300 children, of which eight are under Kerala Mahila Samakhya Society (KMSS).
“Many children require counselling and proper care to overcome mental trauma.Pregnant girls and teen mothers have to be given special care. They require supplementary nutrition and garments, which calls for more funds. The salaries are at times diverted for such requirements and medical exigencies,“ pointed out KMSS director P E Usha.
However, officials of social justice department maintained that funds earmarked for salary could not be diverted to meet other requirements as it involves government procedures.
During a recent executive committee meet, the state had sought for enhanced budgetary allocation from the Centre for Nirbhaya homes. Now, it is up to the finance department to take a call, said an official with the social justice department.
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