The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Scheme to empower women workers in coir sector

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Tuesday, Apr 08, 2008
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Kerala - Kochi

Scheme to empower women workers in coir sector

Staff Reporter

Aims to increase average daily earnings
Beneficiaries to be made share participants

KOCHI: A scheme aimed at empowering women workers engaged in coir spinning has been launched under a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-funded project by the Coir Board.

It will be implemented in association with Peekay Tree Crops Development Foundation, a Kochi-based non-governmental organisation. It is being implemented in panchayats where coir spinning is the primary source of livelihood for a majority of families.

A worker using traditional spinning wheels can earn only around Rs.50 a day. The use of motorised spinning wheels could bring in increased productivity.

The average earning could be Rs.80 or more, according to the organisers of the scheme.

Motorised spinning wheels have already been supplied to 270 households in 8 panchayats.

As many as 400 households are to be brought under the scheme.

The remaining 130 households will be provided with the new spinning wheels in the next six months. Apart from women beneficiaries, men can be involved in the procurement of raw materials as well as marketing of the finished product.

As sustainability measure, 800 women from the beneficiary households will be made share participants of a coir-fibre production mill, promoted under the project. The fibre production mill will ensure unhindered supply of coir fibre. The beneficiary contribution will be credited in their names as share in the mill.

The project is being noticed by the UN agency as a sustainable model for women empowerment, according to farming technology expert P.K. Thampan, who is associated with the project.

Such projects are expected to go a long way in establishing sustainable livelihood to the marginalised sections of society, he said.

While the Coir Board is extending help at the production stage, efforts are also being taken to support the marketing network.

The Board has been trying to promote the sale of the products through select petrol bunks with a view to providing more exposure to the products in the local market.

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