PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Under the Women Empowerment and Child Development (WECD) department, a total of 11 inmates from government child care institutions and homes for orphans, destitute individuals and abandoned women have formed the Alamban Mahila Kalyan Sahakari Samiti. According to officials, the main objective of this committee is to work towards the rehabilitation and welfare of children and inmates living in these institutions and to help make them self-reliant by integrating them into mainstream society.
The committee is selling various products made by adolescent girls and women living in child care institutions and women’s homes. These products include items such as Aipan, paintings, file folders, crafts made from Bhimal fibres, woolen clothes and candles. This initiative has been supported by the WECD department, under the guidance of director Prashant Arya.
Officials said that additionally, training has been provided to the inmates of the Alamban Mahila Kalyan Sahakari Samiti in making namkeen using local ingredients like Mandua, Jhangora and other local products. The training for the women and girls in care institutions is being conducted through the Balaji Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuh, which is licensed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, they added.
Officials informed that the namkeen made by the inmates is marketed under the name Shri Ann Swadisht Namkeen. As of now, namkeen worth Rs 1,000 has been sold through an outlet established in the secretariat complex, Deen Dayal Upadhyay district hospital and other government offices. The committee is also coordinating with the heads of various departments to enhance cooperation in the sale of Shri Ann Namkeen.
Officials have added that the Director of WECD has taken positive initiatives to help orphans, destitute individuals, abandoned women and women with disabilities transition from dependency to self-reliance by providing them with employment-oriented training. Support and guidance are being offered for the sale of Shri Ann Namkeen, ensuring that upon their release from the institution, the women will have sufficient funds and the necessary skills to become economically empowered and reintegrate into society.
