Initiate swift measures to ensure dignity of life in Swadhar Grehs: Centre to States

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) on Monday directed all the state governments to initiate swift measures to ensure that the residents of Swadhar Grehs -- an institutional support for women who are victims of difficult circumstances, lead their life with dignity.

"It is crucial to note that the beneficiaries of Swadhar Greh are vulnerable and therefore their safety is of utmost importance. Schematic norms need to be adhered to and defaulting organisations need to be taken to task," said Rakesh Srivastava, Secretary, WCD, who has written to all the states to take swift measures.

The ministry's reaction comes following a report by the National Commission for Women (NCW) which found 'gross violation' of principles and guidelines framed by the centre, majorly in four states -- Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Karnataka.

The report noted that the list of Swadhar Grehs running in the respective states uploaded in the website by the Centre's Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry and that of the state are different from one another and the same was found in the list of authenticated Swadhar Grehs.

"In certain cases, the Swadhar Greh are not existing in the address mentioned in the authenticated list from the WCD Department with that of State Government. It is necessary to initiate action in correcting the anomalies in the lists of Swadhar Greh uploaded in the website by different agencies of the government," the report noted.

The ministry has also initiated certain suggestions for the states to follow such as furnishing a fresh list of functioning Swadhar Grehs, installing CCTV cameras, hiring of only female employees, maintaining reports on quarterly basis and others.

--IANS

som/oeb/bg