Govt to come to the aid of sexually-abused women
By Asha P Nair
22nd February 2010 03:44 AM
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A sex scandal does not remain in public glare for long, but the trauma inflicted upon the victim lasts longer. For once, the State Government has put in some serious thought about the rehabilitation of sexually- abused or used women and is all set to don the role of a guardian and see them off to a better life.
The Social Welfare Directorate has decided to make a planned intervention in the lives of such women, who were caught in sex traps and are now being sheltered in various institutions run by the Directorate. By intervention, the Directorate means giving them a new lease of life through marriage.
At the end of a thorough examination that lasted for weeks and after endless discussions with the women in various shelter homes across the State, officials in the Directorate have now listed out 33 victims who dream of a married life.
They belong to Thiruvananthapuram Mahila Mandiram, After Care Homes at Kollam and Kozhikode and the Kozhikode Short Stay Home. The Directorate declined to divulge any personal details of these women or the cases they are involved in.
The procedures had begun with a counselling programme where the women were convinced that a normal family life is still possible. Having collected the willingness of 33 women, the Directorate now plans to give newspaper advertisements to invite proposals just like any other responsible guardian.
“As if the mental trauma and media glare is not enough, the women are often abandoned by their respective families. Rehabilitation by means of imparting them a vocation has been going on for years, and in-between some victims have been married off too. But this is the first time we are making a mass, planned intervention to rehabilitate them through marriage,” said K K Mony, Joint Director, Social Welfare Directorate.
The financial, family and criminal background of the men coming forward will be scrutinised first and a screening of these applicants will be done.
The District Probation Officers will carry out an inquiry about the men which will be followed by an interaction with them by officials and the women.
The Directorate will then give trauma counselling and marital counselling to both parties. Even after the victim is settled in a new life, the Directorate will keep an eye on them and provide them with extension services, if needed
The Social Welfare Directorate has decided to make a planned intervention in the lives of such women, who were caught in sex traps and are now being sheltered in various institutions run by the Directorate. By intervention, the Directorate means giving them a new lease of life through marriage.
At the end of a thorough examination that lasted for weeks and after endless discussions with the women in various shelter homes across the State, officials in the Directorate have now listed out 33 victims who dream of a married life.
They belong to Thiruvananthapuram Mahila Mandiram, After Care Homes at Kollam and Kozhikode and the Kozhikode Short Stay Home. The Directorate declined to divulge any personal details of these women or the cases they are involved in.
The procedures had begun with a counselling programme where the women were convinced that a normal family life is still possible. Having collected the willingness of 33 women, the Directorate now plans to give newspaper advertisements to invite proposals just like any other responsible guardian.
“As if the mental trauma and media glare is not enough, the women are often abandoned by their respective families. Rehabilitation by means of imparting them a vocation has been going on for years, and in-between some victims have been married off too. But this is the first time we are making a mass, planned intervention to rehabilitate them through marriage,” said K K Mony, Joint Director, Social Welfare Directorate.
The financial, family and criminal background of the men coming forward will be scrutinised first and a screening of these applicants will be done.
The District Probation Officers will carry out an inquiry about the men which will be followed by an interaction with them by officials and the women.
The Directorate will then give trauma counselling and marital counselling to both parties. Even after the victim is settled in a new life, the Directorate will keep an eye on them and provide them with extension services, if needed
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