She-lodge project well-received in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: 'Ente Koodu,' a project of the Social Justice Department aimed at providing safe shelter to women and children, accompanying them, at the state-run rest house here, has played host to close to 3,000 women in the past six months.

The night shelter at the Thampanoor KSRTC bus station provides lodging facilities to women and children, who are under the age of 12, and they can stay at the centre continuously for three days. The rest house on the 8th floor of the bus station was inaugurated by the Kerala Social Welfare Minister K K Shylaja in November last year.

The space is air-conditioned with kitchen and proper washrooms and can accommodate 50 people. The rest house is under 24-hour surveillance, and stay and food are free of cost. The project is being implemented under the guidance of district social welfare officer with the cooperation of the police, district administration and some voluntary organizations. A six-member team, including two watchmen, a manager and two mistresses, oversees the operations of the facility. Plans are anvil to replicate the 'Ente Koodu' project in other districts of the state.