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

All the officials who responded were satisfied with the duration of time for rest given to the
inmates. Most of the inmates (51 out of 57) also expressed satisfaction with the duration of
time they received for taking rest.
Five out of the nine officials who responded expressed dissatisfaction regarding the quality
of food provided for the inmates. Surprisingly, the majority of the inmates who gave their
opinions (45 out of 57) were satisfied with the food they were given in the Mandirs. In the
case of the other physical facilities also (safety of the building, drinking water, bed for
sleeping), nearly three-fourths of them were satisfied.
While all the officials expressed satisfaction about the way they catered to the psychological
needs (love, consideration, personal security, freedom of expression, dignity and
communication) of the inmates, more than 70 percent of the inmates reported satisfaction
with the treatment meted out to them by the officials.
The officials were of the unanimous view that adequate freedom was being given to the
inmates for using their income, pursuing their religious practices, discussing their needs, and
for meeting and presenting their grievances to higher officials. Not all inmates did, however,
concur with this view. There were a sizeable number of them, ranging from 18 to 28 percent,
who were dissatisfied with the freedom they were allowed in these respects by the officials
in charge of the Mandirs.
However, in the case of all the items under social needs (items 13 to 35), the majority of the
inmates expressed satisfaction.
Though some of the officials and the inmates expressed dissatisfaction with the provisions
in the Mandirs for satisfying the physical and psycho-social needs of the inmates, the majority
in both the groups reported satisfaction. These findings were found to be contradictory to
the statements and opinions given by the higher authorities of the Social Welfare Department.
It is hoped that the results of the present study would be of help to bring changes in the
prejudice of scholars, the higher echelons of the officialdom and the general public against
inmates of the Mahila Mandirs.
The study attempted to find out the reasons why the inmates ended up in the Mahila Mandirs.
The reasons reported by the inmates are given in Table 3.7 in the order of importance.
Table 3.7 Reasons reported for seeking shelter in Mahila Mandirs
Sl. No. Reasons
1 Financial reasons
2 Family problems
3 Love failure / victims of deceit
4 Problems with husband
5 Sexual abuse
6 Discarded due to illness
7 Own decision to leave home
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