ERODE: Women living in tribal villages under the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, who have been trained in tailoring by an NGO, have appealed to the state government to provide them sewing machines. Tree People Charitable Trust selected ten women living in Periya Gundri village and taught tailoring for six months.
After completion of the course, the beneficiaries were given certificates. The tribal women now look up to the government to become self-reliant and earn their own living.
There are 17 tribal settlements in Gundri hills. About 2,000 families live in these villages.
Speaking to TNIE, E Mariya, of Periya Gundri village, said, “I used to work under the MGNREGA scheme earlier. I have started earning my own living after attending the tailoring class. I get Rs 200 by sewing a blouse in the village. This gives me time to take care of my child and I can support my family too.”
S Nathiya, another villager, said, “I did not pursue higher education after completing class 12. This training has taught me self-employment. I hope this will help improve my family’s economic situation. We don’t have sewing machines of our own. The government should provide it to us.”
C Sathish, founder of Tree People Charitable Trust, said,
“In the first phase, we selected 10 women and trained them for six months through a female instructor. The women have been taught to sew 54 types of garments. We gave certificates to those who completed the training on Sunday.
We only have four sewing machines and cannot afford to buy new ones. We have guided the women on how to apply for free sewing machines through the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department. We have also requested a few knitwear units in Tiruppur to donate used sewing machines,” he added.
The outfit plans to start a sanitary napkin manufacturing unit in Gundri village and employ tribal women. “ We are looking for machinery donors,” Satish added.
The trust also conducts evening classes for students in the hill villages, provides solar lamps to villages that does not have electricity, and helps to renovate government school buildings.
A senior official in the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department said, “Women between 21 to 40 years with proper training can apply for sewing machines. Their annual income should be within Rs 1.2 lakh. Beneficiaries will be selected after a direct interview.”