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| Souhardam Kudumbasree Unit, Athanikkal, Kozhikode |
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If it has not completely removed the poverty of households in Athanikkal, Kozhikode, the innovative approach of Kudumbasree has certainly succeeded in removing the poverty of ideas that had made the women folk of the area prisoners of routine habits. And in the bargain, the neighbourhood group of Perumalkandi Ramla and others has been able to generate a small income through the ‘Souhardam’ shawl-making unit and enter the social life as more inspired stakeholders.
As the idea of shawl making unit came up at the Bismillah and Anugrah neighbourhood groups, they availed a loan of Rs.20000 from their ‘thrift’ account and purchased 100m of cloth from Kozhikode market. The shawls for churidars, generated out of this, had an instant demand in the textile shops.
That made them set their targets higher. For their Rs.1 lakh project, they received a loan of Rs.45000 from Federal Bank and a grant of Rs.50000 from Kudumbasree. The unit became active, as demand from the shops was aplenty.
The addition of sewing machines, retail sales of readymade items etc have made the unit expand their reach and activities. With the loan repayment to be over in another 5 months, the group is already planning for the further expansion of their activities.
The positive spin off of the exercise has been the heightened consciousness of the women about social issues and the education of their children. An ‘anganwady’, ‘Ushas’, under Kudumbasree is functioning in the area. There is gradual improvement in the material assets of the members. At least some have been able to acquire TV and phone from the income thus generated.
'Souhrudam' group at work
Courtesy: Malayala Manorama, September 1, 2003
Contributed by: Administrator
