The Cement Block Manufacturing Unit was established at Mettupatti village in Hiraniyamangalam Panchayat, Kulithalai Taluk, Karur District, Tamil Nadu with the financial support of Eu Can Aid, Belgium. The required machineries were purchased and the unit started functioning from January 2022. Cement Block making yard was constructed and one bore well was drilled to get water for the manufacturing unit. There are 15 women working on regular basis. The raw materials such as cement, chips, crusher powder were purchased from Ayyermalai. The cement blocks are sold in the villages about 20 K.Ms radious.
A Project Proposal “Distribution of Sewing Machines for Rural Women and Girls for Self Employment” was submitted to OSSTF/FEESO, Canada for financial assistance.. Our application was considered by OSSTF/FEESO and the same was approved for a grant of 2777 Canadian Dollars on 01/11 2021. An amount of Rs.1,58,832/- was credited in our bank account maintained at State Bank of India, New Delhi on 22.11.2021.
The sewing machines were distributed to 20 rural women and girls who underwent cutting and tailoring training course at Samathuvapuram Industrial School run by CARD at Samathuvapuram, Pulivalam Post, Thirumayam Taluk, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu. 20 sewing machines and 20 wooden stools were purchased for 20 women beneficiaries. The machines were distributed to the beneficiaries on 17/01/2022 at Samathuvapuram. The beneficiaries received sewing machines and expressed thanks to OSSTF/FEESO and CARD for supporting them through this project. The beneficiaries will set up a tailoring unit at their home and earn income doing job works.
30 poor women and girls were admitted for the training and the training was started from 17.01.2022 at Samathuvapuram in Pudukkottai District. Mrs. S. Poongothai was appointed as teacher for conducting the classes both theory and practical. CARD purchased 10 sewing machines and 10 wooden stools from the project funds. CARD has provided a building at Samathuvapuram for conducting the training programme.
The classes are conducted from Monday to Friday and from Morning 10 a.m to 4 p.m. The trainees are coming from the villages around Samathuvapuam. The minimum distance between the trainees places to the training centre is 1 to 15 K.Ms. The trainees who are coming from far away places are coming in Government Transport Service. The Government of Tamil Nadu has declared that the women and girls can travel in Government Local Town Buses at free of cost. Hence there is no travel expenses for the trainees to come for the training. The trainees are provided raw materials such as clothes, thread and needle for learning.
A skill training centre was started at Thiruvadanai in Ramanathapuram Aspirational District. Three embroidery machines and equipments required for Aari work were purchased. Aari work and machine embroidery training is going on with 10 women trainees who are selected in an around Thiruvadanai. An experienced teacher in Aari work is appointed and the classes are going on at Thiruvadanai. A building is hired at Sannadi Street for conducting the training.
CARD has been running a Milk Producers Co-operative Society at Mettupatti village in Hiraniyamangalam Panchayat, Kulithalai Taluk, Karur District, Tamil Nadu since 1987 There are 250 members in the society. An average of 1000 liters of milk is procured from members and sent to the Karur District Milk Producers Co-operative Union at Karur. The payment to the producers is made once in fortnight. The members are provided cattle feed, veterinary care and insemination facilities’.
In order to promote livelihood and self employment opportunities, CARD is running “Samathuvapuram Industrial School” at Samathuvapuram in Pulivalam Post, Thirumayam Taluk, Pudukkottai District with the financial support from the Tzedek, United Kingdom. Four skill training courses namely cutting and tailoring, embroidery and needle work, electrical technician and welding technician are offered. 40 boys and 40 girls were trained so far.
