Destitute Women in Kerala: Psychological resources and psycho ...

For finding out the socio-economic problems of the destitute women as perceived by them
and as perceived by the officials, separate Need Evaluation Checklists were used. Brainstorming
sessions were also held for both the groups to probe into the implementation of welfare
programmes. The checklists were prepared by the investigator.
Brainstorming sessions were organised in every Mahila Mandir separately for the inmates
as well as the authorities. In the brainstorming session, the inmates and the authorities were
introduced to the various welfare programmes of the Social Welfare Department and were
asked to comment on them and give their opinions regarding the problems faced by them
during the implementation of the programme. As many as 14 authorities and 56 inmates took
part in the brainstorming sessions.
The views of the officials obtained from the checklist and the brainstorming sessions are the
following:
(i) Insufficient funding from the Social Welfare Department. (Maintenance grant is only
Rs 300 / month / head) Authorities of all homes were of the opinion that if it were for
non-governmental organisations the inmates would have starved.
(ii) Rehabilitation is not being done at all.
(iii) Inadequate staff.
(iv) Poor living conditions - old buildings not maintained properly for years, lack of facilities
and lack of provision of water in some of the Mahila Mandirs (Palakkad). Lack of
security (e.g., Kasargod and Kannur).
(v) Mentally ill patients, epileptic patients, and mentally retarded patients, are also admitted
as inmates but no provision for medical care is provided by the government.
(vi) No counselling service is made available for the inmates who have been sent from
police stations and those with criminal tendencies.
(vii) No professional help to deal with various problems like homosexuality, kleptomania,
and emotional, behavioural, and psychosomatic problems found among the inmates.
The problems as perceived by the inmates are the following: (i) insufficient food; (ii) insecure
living conditions; (iii) lack of vocational rehabilitation; (iv) inadequate staff; (v) quarrels and
teasing among inmates, and (vi) poor opinion from the public.
The authorities as well as the inmates presented similar problems. All the officials were
unanimous in their opinion that the funds allotted for the institutions were grossly inadequate
and that the inmates were saved from starving only because other non-governmental institutions
helped these institutions with food and clothing. The inmates invariably complained about
insufficient food.
According to the officials and the inmates, living conditions were extremely poor. Most of
the homes are housed in dilapidated buildings, which are unsafe for living.
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