BENGALURU: The Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) and community researchers with the support of Azim Premji Foundation, in association with BBMP, conducted a study on the ‘Extent and Quality of Access of Marginalised Women in Key Welfare Schemes, Programs and Entitlements’, which was released by Mayor Manjunath Reddy and Commissioner Manjunath Prasad on Thursday.
The study aims to strengthen evidence for better inclusion of and delivery of schemes to marginal communities. The survey reveals that a majority of the respondents were facing problems in essential schemes such as ICDS, Stree Shakthi and pension.
Sharing the insights, Mahadevamma, a community researcher, spoke about the stopping of the Stree Shakthi scheme and with many skill-building schemes of BBMP such as computer training and tailoring were not accessible to less educated women. She said, “The major expectation we have from the government is to make the schemes community-friendly so that all women from marginalised communities can access it with dignity.”
In a candid exchange with Deputy Mayor S P Hemlatha, the women from different settlements pointed out that they found it difficult to access basic schemes such as aadhar number, ration cards and pension and faced harassment from intermediaries.
Shivakumar, Assistant Commissioner, Welfare, BBMP, assured the gathering that BBMP is administering welfare schemes to improve the quality of life of the marginal community and in particular women. When he spoke about the skill development training, the women raised concern about the minimum educational qualification of 8th standard set by BBMP to qualify for the training programme. Shivakumar said that he would raise this matter with BBMP and urge it to revisit this clause.