Women’s Safe House set up in Ilam

By Our Correspondent,Ilam, Jan.1: A Women's Safe House has been set up in Ilam district for the first time to provide safe shelter and support services to battered women.

The safe house has been constructed in Kanyam by Suryodaya Municipality.

The three-storey building with seven rooms has been constructed by the local government under an investment of Rs. 11.1 million. It was inaugurated by Suryodaya’s Mayor Ran Bahadur Rai on Friday.

“Many women have no place to go when they are a victim of domestic violence in their house. 

Now, the safe house will provide shelter to such victims and support in their legal battles for justice,” said Rai.

“Victims should be protected by the government. This is what we believe. Thus, we have constructed the safe house,” Rai added.

The safe house will be managed by Shakti Samuha Nepal. An agreement was signed between the municipality and the organisation.

“This might be the first safe house in Nepal to be constructed by a local government. 

For now, the house can shelter five women,” said Charimaya Gurung, chairperson of Shakti Samuha Nepal (SSN). 

Officials informed that the shelter house will be operated under the set standards. 

“The shelter will focus on women suffering from domestic violence and those rescued from trafficking for now. We will discuss to expand our services for other victims as well,” said Khagendra Dhungana, SSN’s focal person.

The Foundation has also supported the operation of the safe house. While victims identified or rescued by police and other organisations will be sheltered in the safe house, victims can contact themselves as well.

Meanwhile, stakeholders argued that the district also required a shelter home for children. “There are many children in the district who have suffered from violence and abuses, and are victims of other crimes. 

They have no body to look after them. They have been deprived of good health, education and food due to lack of necessary efforts,” said Bhakta Thami.

Thami, who is the coordinator of the district’s Bal Helpline, a helpline operated for children and reachable by dialling 1098, said that there was no place to shelter those children. “There was a situation where we had to rescue children aged 16 days to eight months. 

Thus, a proper care centre for children has been an absolute necessity. Some children are rescued with their mothers as well,” said Thami.