Kozhikode: The successful poverty eradication programme Kudumbashree has brought about a sea change in the lives of women in Kerala since its origin two decades back. Numerous self-help groups under the Kudumbashree banner have made its women members financially secure. Now, Kudumbashree is making forays outside the state and will commence skill-training programme for Rohingya refugees who are settled in camps in Delhi.
A team of 12 trainers from Kozhikode unit of the self-help group is travelling to Delhi's Kalindi Kunj in the first phase. Already 12 sewing machines have been donated to them, with public funding and the popular community-based entity would ensure the marketing of the products through their Mahila Mall and micro-bazaar coming up in Kozhikode shortly, according to project officer Ramsi Ismail.
“The financial support for the programme would be provided by Ubais Sainulabdeen Peace Foundation (USPF) and public funding. Already we could provide them (Rohingyas) with 12 machines to a camp housing 54 families. Our volunteers, led by Rajya Sabha MP Narayanan CP, have been visiting the camps for the past few days and this would continue. Around six months ago, dress and food packets were supplied to these camps, and a decision to train them, apart from providing material support, was taken after a meeting in Kozhikode on the World Refugee Day on June 20,” Ismail said.
The team will continue the camp visit till July 1.
Narayanan inaugurated the tailoring unit at Kalindi Kunj camp in the presence of 13 executives of the Community Development Society of Kozhikode corporation on Friday. The delegation also visited finance minister Thomas Isaac who was at Kerala House in New Delhi. Isaac handed over to USPF chairman Sainulabdeen the Kudumbashree project plans aimed at the betterment of Rohingya refugees in the camps.
This is the first time that the Kudumbasree project implemented by the State Poverty Eradication Mission of the Government of Kerala is taking up responsibilities beyond its mandate.
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