The Sparsam (Sustainable Poverty Alleviation and Reformation of the Sea-belt Area of Marad) project is being rejuvenated with the district administration planning to restart various manufacturing units for providing employment to women.
The programme would be carried out in cooperation with the Fisheries, Rural Development, and Environment departments, District Collector C.A. Latha told presspersons here on Friday.
Fisheries Minister K. Babu will inaugurate the new units at the Marad civil administration control room at 9 a.m. on February 2.
The Sparsam project, aimed at generating employment for women in the once strife-torn areas of Marad village in Beypore, was implemented many years ago. However, the project had faced severe financial crunch.
The government had been working out plans for successfully sustaining the project. The Collector said the Department of Fisheries would provide support to fish-processing units and for production of value-added fish products, including fish pickle and fish cutlet. The marketing of the products would be carried out through the Society for Assistance to Fisherwomen (SAF) under the Fisheries Department. Separate units would be established for breeding ornamental fish and exporting quality seafood, Ms. Latha said.
Likewise, the Subhiksha project under the Department of Rural Development would start units for manufacturing soap, candles, and value-added products from tender coconut. The Centre for Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development (C-STED) of the Department of Science and Technology would impart training to homemakers in medicinal plant cultivation. The participants would also provide assistance to start farming units, she said.
The revival of the Sparsam project was done on the basis of a report submitted by C-STED on the status, revival, and diversification possibilities. The report recommended the support of local resources such as fisheries and horticulture sectors.
Hundreds of women would secure employment under Sparsam. The existing stitching, paper making, and scrap units would also be renewed.
