Kerala government once again lead by example as it is all set to open ‘safe homes’ for inter-caste and inter-religion couples such that they have secure accommodation to turn to.
It has been learnt that the Department of Social Justice aims to open such safe facilities in all districts. Social Justice Minister KK Shailaja added that preliminary steps have already been taken to establish ‘safe homes’ where inter-religion and inter-caste couples can stay for up to one year after marriage.
While talking to the state Assembly, the minister added that such type of initiative was being carried out with the support of voluntary organisations.
The minister echoed that the department had already been helping out such couples by giving them a sum of Rs 30,000 for self-employment if they belonged to general category and had an annual salary of less than Rs 1 lakh.
If it either belongs to the scheduled caste, the financial assistance offered is worth Rs 75,000.
As per the news agency TNIE, even though inter-religious couples are added in the category deserving special consideration during the time of transfer in government departments, there is no such law that gives them job reservation, yet.
This significant decision comes after a 23-year-old Dalit Christian man was kidnapped and killed allegedly by the relatives of his upper-caste wife in Kottayam district of Kerala in 2018.