Thanks to the tsunami the livelihood aspects of the coastal community, particularly those of women, have looked up to a significant level.
Women who remained just home makers prior to the cataclysmic event have now turned into entrepreneurs. They are being helped by the State government and the international agencies.
For instance, many women affected by the tsunami in Marakkanam area have joined the Post-Tsunami Sustainable Development Programme supported by the International Fund for Agriculture Development.
Ayyammal (47) of Koonimedu, who has learnt tailoring, was emboldened to launch her own trade. She has found four other like-minded women.
Ms Ayyammal told this correspondent that she thought that after the ban on plastic cover, the demand for cloth bags were picking up. As stitching a bag did not involve much of expertise she and her team decided to take it up on a big level. What was needed was funds to carry on the chosen vocation and in this the District Rural Development Agency had given her the direction.
The five as a group obtained an interest-free loan of Rs 2.80 lakh under the Micro-Enterprise Development Project to buy the sewing machines. As of now her unit was producing 700 to 1,000 bags a day.
Each of the member was turning out 150 to 200 bags a day. They are paid 75 paise per bag. Ayyammal said the officials provided marketing support too.
This has now emboldened her to embark upon producing readymade garments for children as a way of diversification and expansion of her trade. From the income she earns she could easily defray her expenses and repay the loan.
Jayachandra (38) of Keezhpudhupattu has got the fascination of rearing poultry and it has become a reality through the Micro-Enterprise Development Project. She buys chicks, at the rate of Rs 25 each, from Namakkal and with proper feed and medical attention these become full grown birds within 45 days, fetching her a handsome income.
For the current year 2014 - 2015 the Micro-Enterprise Development Project had been shelved and in its place Joint Liability Groups, consisting mainly of women in coastal areas, are being formed.
Under the new concept each group would consist of five women who could take a loan for rearing milch animals in their respective places individually, instead of collectively as in the earlier project.
The high-level committee of the National Women’s Commission that visited Villupuram recently studied the functioning of these programmes and expressed their word of appreciation.
