Nirbhaya Keralam cries for fund
115 volunteers selected for the project are yet to get handbook, diary and allowances
By : smitha
Update: 2014-09-16 02:57 GMT
Kochi: The Central Government, supported Nirbhaya Keralam Project, which is being implemented in the district on a pilot-basis, is struggling to survive as the Centre is yet to release the funds.
Due to paucity of funds, the committee chaired by District Collector who is responsible for implementation of the project is finding it difficult to take the initiative forward. The 115 volunteers who were selected and trained for the project are yet to get handbook, diary and allowances. According to women’s groups, lack of funds will hit the implementation of the next phases of the project, which was launched by the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi in February this year.
“Shortage of funds is a major problem affecting implementation of the project. If funds are not released, it will be difficult to take forward the innovative scheme. However, the volunteers are keen to work for rehabilitation of victims and to provide them legal assistance and support. Uniforms have already been given to them and identity cards will be provided after reviewing their commitment and performance,” sources at Women’s Cell told DC.
Women in the age group of 25 – 55 have been recruited for the project which is expected to prevent exploitation and other crimes against women and children to a great extent. The 115 volunteers have been divided to 10 groups and deployed in different regions. These volunteers can intervene in women’s issues and also can go for door-to-door campaign in their respective regions. During a recent review meeting of the project, attended by various stakeholders including volunteers’ team leaders, problems due to scarcity of funds have been pointed out.
Meanwhile, women’s group leaders remark that despite being a well-planned and innovative project, there are lapses in its implementation. “Paucity of funds was a problem even during the initial phase. Without having funding sources, the initiative will be stuck midway,” said Jyothi Narayanan, of Sthreevedi.