Kerala leads the way yet again. The Southern state will soon set up safe homes for inter-faith and inter-caste couples, so they have a safe and secure accommodation to turn up to. The Department of Social Justice has the vision to open such safe facilities in all districts of Kerala. K K Shailaja, the Social Justice Minister has stated that preliminary steps have commenced establishing safe homes where inter-caste and inter-faith couples can reside up to one year after marriage.
What’s In It?
Even though its the 21st century, marrying outside one’s caste and religion is considered to be a huge taboo in the country. Couples still face ostracism and many of their lives are in danger for opting for such a marriage. The Marathi film Sairaat is one which shows the gruesome consequences an inter-caste married couple has to face. And reel life is just a reflection of real life. To protect such couples, the Kerala government will be setting up safe homes for them. The Minister, K K Shailaja stated that the initiative has been implemented with the support of voluntary organizations.
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KK Shailaja has also revealed that the department has already been helping such couples with ₹30,000 for self-employment if they belonged to general category and had an annual income of less than ₹1 lakh. If either of them belongs to the scheduled caste, then an amount of ₹75,000 will be offered to them as financial assistance. The New Indian Express has reported that even though inter-religious couples are included in the category deserving special consideration during the time of transfer in government departments, yet there is no law that gives them job reservations as of today. Did you know Kerala Now Has The World’s First Marine Cemetery In Kozhikode?
What’s More?
Kerala government has taken this decision to establish safe homes for inter-caste and inter-faith couples after a 23-year-old Dalit Christian man was abducted and killed by the relatives of his upper-caste partner in Kottayam district of Kerala in 2018. There have been other inter-caste and inter-religious couples who have bee hounded by their relatives for years for their decision. This is a great move by the Kerala government, which promotes free thinking amongst its citizens.