Thiruvananthapuram: The LDF government had initial reservations, as the idea of employing NGOs went against the grain of its antipathy towards non-governmental interventions in welfare. However, considering the poor state of finances and the enormity of the task, it 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 the victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence in the state.
During the first few months, the LDF government was even mulling the removal of NGOs from running Nirbhaya homes. Now, they 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 is largely pivoted around NGOs. Huge funds are funnelled 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 after the Delhi rape in 2012, there was just one Nirbhaya Home and the state was finding it difficult to begin other homes on its own. After the UDF government roped in NGOs, now there are more than 10 Nirbhaya homes in the state.
“NGOs can bring a lot of modern techniques into the management of these homes,” the official said. For instance, the caretakers in government-run children’s homes are not equipped to deal with the emotional and psychologically 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 Josephine, a social activist.
