Thressiamma, the head of Women's wing at Socio Economic Unit (SEU), Thrissur, became aware of the vast disparity of wages between skilled male masons and the unskilled, yet hardworking women labourers, when she was involved in the implementation of a sanitation-cum-drinking water project at panchayat level during 1988-89. Since the toilets being constructed as part of the project were of standard type, she wondered why women couldn't do the entire job themselves. Thus was born the concept of women masons.

As the activities of SEU required many masons, Thressiamma arranged to train 33 women to take up the job. After training, the women masons concentrated on constructing toilets and they created a record of sorts when they constructed more than 35000 toilets till 1996.

In the meanwhile, they formed the JWMS in 1995 by contributing Rs.1000 each. If it was the Women's Development wing of the Dutch Embassy that helped them financially in the initial years, they soon came to the notice of other donors like UNICEF, World Bank, Dutch Government, State Government, District and Grama Panchayats etc.

In addition to construction activities, the JWMS manufactures building materials also. Hollow bricks, cement bricks, ferro-cement water tanks and slabs, windows, flower pots etc are some of them. All the members are covered by insurance and the Society operates compulsory saving schemes for the members.

With 2000 members in 6 districts of Kerala, the JWMS attracts women from even other States, who come to the training units under it to learn masonry. A book detailing the history and activities of JWMS, authored by noted journalist Leela Menon is about to be published soon.