Thiruvananthapuram: The Social Justice Department has decided to rope in NGOs in a big way to run welfare institutions like juvenile homes, old age homes, mahila mandirams and homes for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence in the state. The NGOs will be asked to both take over existing welfare homes and start new ones.
“The state cannot remain immune to the influence and experience of NGOs. The Centre’s welfare policy largely pivots around NGOs. Huge funds are funneled into such organizations. If the state needs to tap such huge resources for welfare, we have to bring them in,” a top Social Justice Department official said.
Further, it is felt that the entry of NGOs will tackle two major issues faced by the state in the running of welfare institutions: poor infrastructure and lack of quality manpower. The operation of Nirbhaya homes in the state, for instance, took off only after NGOs like Prajwala and Anweshi were roped in. For nearly two years, there was just one Nirbhaya Home and the state was finding it difficult to begin other homes on its own. What’s more, these NGOs had more expertise in the field.
“NGOs can bring a lot of modern techniques into the management of these homes,” the Department source said. For instance, the caretakers in government-run children’s homes are not equipped to deal with emotional and psychological issues of inmates. “Their handling of sexual abuse or domestic violence victims are better left unsaid,” the official added.
However, it is also argued that the NGO advantage is merely theoretical. “Unlike Kerala, other states had employed NGOs in a big way in their welfare activities. Even then Kerala’s institutions are better placed than those in other states,” said Subiar, a social activist. He feels that a balance should be struck. “It should not reach a situation where NGOs grow beyond the control of the state,” he said.
