THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sexual abuse victims can now hope to lead normal lives thanks to the initiative being taken by the government.
Such victims living in women and child homes across the state will be recruited as drivers in government departments and public sector undertakings. The directorate of women and child development will launch a special drive to select women drivers for the purpose.
Last week, the Cabinet had decided to induct women drivers in government services. Special secretary in charge of women and child department Biju Prabhakar told this newspaper that the inmates of women and child homes would be given top priority for the job. The department was planning to tie up with Kudumbashree Mission to provide driving lessons to interested candidates.
“Many inmates are not very keen on studies and those interested in driving would be trained and recruited in government services. We have instructed every department to report on the number of driver vacancies. We will launch a special recruitment drive exclusively for women,” he said. The department was also planning to form a pool of women drivers who would work on call.
“Also, it’s high time we recruit women drivers in KSRTC. Even for long-distance trips, we could use women drivers. Dormitory arrangements and resting facilities for women could be easily set up,” he added.
An official of Nirbhaya cell said that many of the inmates had expressed interest in learning driving and taking up the job.
“An aptitude test was done recently and some of them have expressed interest in becoming drivers. We have asked the homes in all other districts to come up with the list of interested candidates. Generally, we train them on tailoring, plumbing and electrical works but never driving. This is for the first time we are doing something like this,” the official added.
