Many women from the 693 self-help groups supported by the National Urban Livelihood Mission have utilised the skills and entrepreneurship development training to come up in life.
“Making mats and ropes that are used to tether livestock is our traditional occupation. After forming the Sangamam women’s group, we were able to give work to 15 women in our locality and empower them,” said D. Dhanaselvi.
The team of officials from Bengaluru interacted with the women’s groups to study their model of functioning and saw a display of their products at an expo conducted at the City Livelihood Centre here on Friday.
Most of the women said that they used to be homemakers and heard about the training and skill development programmes and financial assistance offered to start business ventures and utilised them.
K. Radha, who has trained 25 women in tailoring and jewellery making, said that she was happy to share her skills. “I am a member of an SHG in Villapuram where we make jewellery and small handicrafts and we also train other women,” she said.
Members of Geetham women’s group, who are among the first to be trained in manufacturing bakery products, run a successful unit near Grace Kennett Hospital. They make cookies, rusk, bread, buns and savouries. “We sell our products in exhibitions. We also get wholesale orders from government offices and for private events,” said M. Rajeswari.
