Women's Development Program
With the support from Tamilnadu Women's Development Corporation Ltd, Chennai through its project implementation unit at Namakkal under Mathi-III scheme, this program is being implemented in Pallipalayam block of Namakkal District from August 2002. Under this holistic women empowerment and development program, the rural women in Pallipalayam block are being organised into women self help groups (SHGs). There are 12-20 members will be in a SHG.
Each SHG is having their own savings accounts in the nearby banks and they are promoted to practice the internal thrift and credit process. The women group members were being given various intensive training packages including the induction and orientation training on the concept of SHGs, leadership training, Entrepreneurial Development program (EDP), Various Income Generation Programs like production of goods, Marketing strategies, Various vocational training programs, value added services to the products etc.,
The groups have started to manufacture their own products. Many groups are being involved in manufacturing house-hold things, vermi-composting, toys making, bamboo products, garments, embroidery, chorosa works, cattle rearing, brick making, glass painting, oil painting etc., The credit linkages have been established with the banks and other financial institutions for their micro-entrepreneurial initiatives for the self help group members.
Till March 2010, 526 women self help groups have been formed with 8792 rural women. Under this program, we have also developed 44 men self help groups with 616 members to render various support services for their economic improvement sectors. Due to the effective implementation of the program, WORD has been awarded with the Achiever Award for the year 2006-2007 by the donor.