Shelter case: State accepts judge's tips

The state government has accepted the recommendations given by judge Swati Chauhan who was appointed by the Bombay high court for monitoring the affairs of the Navjeevan Maheela Vastigruha.

One of the recommendations is starting the government scheme ‘Maher’ under which the women and their first and second child are paid a fixed amount monthly so that they lead a better life after being released. “On arrival of an inmate, she should be given a welcome kit, including clothes and bedding, and on departure, the kit should include essential items, contact numbers of counselling centres, and some kind of employment so that she is not trafficked again,” Chauhan’s recommendation report read.

The report stated that there should be a library set up in the rescue home for the inmates. Periodic visit of a female psychologist should be arranged to look after the mental state and background of the women, it added.

The report was submitted during the hearing of a suo moto public interest litigation on the poor condition of women lodged at the Navjeevan Mahila Vastigruha in Mankhurd and the allegations of sexual, physical and verbal abuse levelled by one of the inmates. The issue came to light after newspapers published reports about the escape of 23 inmates from the home.