Why not build 1,000 houses with money meant for 'women's wall', asks Joy Mathew

Actor Joy Mathew has aired his displeasure over the LDF government's move to organise a human wall comprising women as its bid to support its stand on the Sabarimala issue.

Long ago I came to read that people of a country always came up with bizarre ideas to make use of outdated products at their homes. For example, if iodine is reaching its expiry date, they would do the unthinkable. Family members would stab each other and rub iodine on the open wounds.

It seems that Kerala is also toeing a similar line going by the state government’s reply to the High Court’s query on the source of funds for the planned women’s wall. The government told the court that the thought of a women’s wall took shape after it was found that funds earmarked in the budget for women’s security and empowerment would lapse as the financial year was coming to a close. And that brings 'iodine' spell to the state.

Any political party, which had decided to create boundaries among people, can decide whether to build a wall or not. But a government would become one with foresight only when it works according to the pulse of the society.

Kerala could have come together to build a fort, rather than a wall, if this planned wall intended to plug any future deluge or rebuild the state which was ravaged by the recent floods. Rs 50 crore that could lapse, as per the government’s statement to the High Court, is in no way a small amount of money.

Close to 1,000 houses could be built with Rs 50 crore as only Rs 5 lakh is required to construct a modest house. And there can’t be a better security for women, if houses are built for women who lost homes in the August floods. The courts would also endorse the effort as part of women empowerment. That’s how women should be empowered, isn’t it? The renaissance fiesta is at a time when there are flood victims who haven’t received the relief amount of Rs 10,000.

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