CHITRAL: The first-ever Darul Aman (shelter home) for the distressed women has started functioning in Chitral under the aegis of the social welfare, special education and women empowerment department.

District social welfare officer Nusrat Jabeen told mediapersons here on Sunday that all facilities had been provided to the shelter home.

She said the inmates would get psychological counseling to help them lead a normal life.

She said under the SOPs set by the government judges or officials of the district administration would recommend a woman for admission to the shelter home.

However, she added a distressed woman could directly approach the facility, saying in such a case, the shelter home’s management would fulfill the legal formalities and the local police would be duly informed to include her name in the daily dairy.

Ms Jabeen said the facility was the need of the hour in Chitral where suicide rate among women was high mainly due to what she said harsh attitude of their family members.

“In the absence of a place where such women can get consolation and relief, a woman has no option but to end her life in utter despair,” she said, adding the suicide rate among women would drop considerably with the functioning of the shelter home.

Ms Jabeen said the women rights activists had long been demanding such a facility to help reduce the incidence of suicides among women.

Asia Ajmal, project manager of the shelter home, said women from Upper Chitral would be accommodated as suicide rate was higher there than in Lower Chitral.

She said arrangements, including provision of education, had also been made for children of the women in the shelter home. She said presently the facility had a space to accommodate 40 women, which would be increased as per requirements.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2021