The Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation is rolling out a number of initiatives to bring about a change in the lives of women in the State.
Besides self-employment loans for women, it is intervening in areas such as women’s safety, and starting new programmes for them, says KSWDC chairperson K.S. Saleekha.
The KSWDC has decided to expand the functioning of its working women’s hostels. “The KSWDC has nine hostels, but wants to set up one in each district. We have been offered land in some places. Once land is identified in all districts, we can avail ourselves of Union and State government funds,” says Ms.Saleekha.
The 24x7 Mitra 181 helpline for women that was launched in March has been able to intervene in nearly 5,000 cases. “We not only provide help, but also ensure follow-up,” says Ms. Saleekha.
To promote menstrual hygiene, the KSWDC will make available Shepad to adolescent girl students in schools in 116 panchayats that have handed over funds to the corporation for the scheme. The project includes cupboards for storing the free sanitary napkins and incinerators for their disposal.
“There were some technical hurdles in completing the project in time, but those have been taken care of. Tender proceedings are over, and the Shepad will be supplied to schools in a month or two,” she said.
Twenty-five Shetoilets will come up across the State this year, in addition to the 58 that are functional. Tenders have been called for the same. “Such facilities are important for women who venture outside, especially as they are not safe in most places, what with hidden cameras and so on,” Ms. Saleekha says.
The corporation has drawn up a scheme for welfare and development of widows.
“This is aimed at equipping widows to stand on their feet. The first step is to give them the confidence that they can do it; financial aid comes next. As a pilot, we plan to conduct three-day training programmes for 30 women in 10 districts from August 28. Classes will be held on decision-making first, followed by entrepreneurship development. Beyond that, the corporation is available to the women for any help or clearing any doubts,” Ms. Saleekha says.
For the first time, the KSWDC will reach out to tribal women in the State. The pilot project will be implemented in Chakkittapara in Kozhikode “Women in the settlements will be trained in some skill, opportunities created for them to practice it, and mechanism created for marketing their products,” Ms. Saleekha says.
A baseline survey will be held soon to determine their skill sets and their needs before drawing up intervention tools.
The corporation disburses self-employment loans to women to ensure their economic independence
“Loan melas will be held in each district. We plan to give away ₹100 crore in loans this financial year,” Ms. Saleekha says. Microfinancing will also begin soon in association with Kudumbasree.
