'Rangasree' to Set Stage For Women's Empowerment
ALAPPUZHA:Women’s empowerment in the state is all set to get a boost through theatre with the Kudumbasree Mission planning to constitute professional community theatre groups.
In the first phase, five professional groups would be constituted at Kannur, Malappuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and the Alappuzha-Ernakulam region with funding from the National Rural Livelihood Mission. These groups will be known as ‘Rangasree’. According to Soya Thomas, programme manager Gender and Balasabha, Kudumbasree Mission, the National Rural Livelihood Mission has approved Rs 50 lakh towards launching the theatre groups. The Kudumbasree had experimented with such groups in the panchayat level in 2010. These groups engaged in various campaigns organised by the Mission.
After the success of the mini theatre groups, the Mission decided to form larger ones for national level campaigns, she said.
Kudumbasree works as the nodal agency to implement model poverty eradication projects in 15 states. “As per our experience theatre groups are effective in communicating with ordinary women. It is also an apt medium to create awareness about poverty and gender discriminations,” she said.
Applications have been invited from women in the age group of 20 to 45 with talents in writing, script writing, acting, music, dance and environmental activities.
The Kudumbasree Mission had organised a ‘book journey’ in the state two years ago and it was a success. One theatre group presented a play as part of it. Their presentation was effective in communicating social and gender issues to women and inspired the formation of professional groups, Soya said.
The ‘Rangasree’ groups will be mentored by Nireeksha, a women’s theatre group based in Thiruvananthapuram.
The groups can be registered as micro enterprises and the government will allot financial help to the groups. The groups can make money through staging plays, performing music and mimicry and other cultural programmes, Soya said.