WOMEN'S SELF-EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME

In its effort to make women self reliant, MASUM focuses on providing opportunities for vocational training and self employment. It has initiated several programmes to fulfil this objective.

Skill development and empowerment of women through the tailoring class

Since 1990, MASUM has been conducting tailoring classes for young girls, in Purandar taluka with the aim of building their self confidence by teaching them a useful skill and creating a supportive space for them. Two trained teachers conduct these classes. The tailoring training equips the girls to stitch local outfits and they are also taught machine maintenance and repair. Apart from tailoring, the classes emphasise on development and recreational activities. Organised games, yoga sessions, physical activities are undertaken everyday for an hour. The teachers along with staff from other programmes discuss issues of dowry, violence, health, contraception, abortion, legal rights, feminism, etc., with the girls.

The sewing class has benefited the girls economically and few of them have started tailoring businesses and earn upto Rs.15-20 a day.

The tailoring classes shift to a new village every second or third batch in order to provide an opportunity for girls from remote and interior villages to acquire skills.

Income generation programme for the dalit and destitute women

MASUM introduced weaving which was not a traditional craft as an income generating programme for the dalit and destitute women in the community in 1990. Twenty women from eight villages were trained in this skill. These women bought their own looms through the loans that were available to them after the training. The Malshiras gram panchayat provided land for constructing the handloom centre. Women started weaving mats, carpets, bed sheets on their looms.

The centre provided a regular income to these women for almost 8 years. However, it encountered several obstacles and setbacks. Marketing these products was not easy as the durability of the product led to a quick saturation of the local markets. Also some of the women could not continue for personal reasons. Eventually in 1997, following a sharp rise in the price of cotton the handloom unit shut down its production.

In 2000 the handloom centre received new orders and the work resumed. At present two local women are working at the looms. The products are sold at counters in Malshiras, Ralegan Siddhi and Pune.

Training in non traditional skills

Training of women in non traditional skills such as computer education and repair of domestic appliances have been initiated recently.