THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Old parents abandoned by their children, women deserted by families, mentally-challenged men and women, deserted widows, and men and women dumped in welfare homes even after being cured of mental illness finally have something to cheer. The state government has substantially increased their allowance.
The monthly dietary allowance per beneficiary, has been increased to Rs 2,000 from the current Rs 750, a 266 per cent increase.
“Continuing with Rs 750 per month for food would have been, to use a mild word, insensitive,” a social justice official said. “It is just Rs 25 per day. You cannot have a decent breakfast for that money these days,” the official added.
Even more overwhelming is the increase in monthly medical allowance, From a mere RS 100 per month to RS 1,000. Annual clothing allowance, too, has seen a 100 per cent increase; from Rs 1,000 to RS 2,000.
In addition to raising these routine allowances, the social justice department has introduced annual assistance for needs that were hitherto ignored — for recreation, for hair-cutting, for aids and appliances, and for study materials.
“Such an increase has been realised after a long and arduous fight,” social justice director V.N. Jithen-dran said. “Social stigma associated with mental illness has led families to behave cruelly. Most families do not accept members even after they are cured of their illness. Such people, who now languish in homes like Asha and Prathyasha bhavans will find this a big blessing,” the director said.
Self-sustenance of welfare homes is the other reason why allowances have been considerably increased.
“There are welfare ho-mes, especially old age homes, that get contributions from the public. But these public contributions can be fickle. We cannot depend on them. Moreover, even old age homes in remote areas are not the beneficiaries of such public largesse,” the director said.
