Women’s self-reliance takes a hit; demand to revive labour welfare schemes

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

Skill-based initiatives for women run through 13 sub-labour welfare centres in the city have currently come to a halt, affecting women’s self-reliance. Many schemes that were shut during the lockdown have still not fully resumed, leading to growing dissatisfaction among labour families.

Through these centres, women earlier had access to activities such as embroidery, weaving, sewing machine training and mehendi art, enabling them to earn from home. These centres played a significant role in the economic empowerment of labour households. However, with the schemes discontinued, many women have lost their sources of income.

The centres also offered various training programmes for children of labour families. With these activities now suspended, students are compelled to enrol in expensive private courses, placing a direct financial burden on their families.

There is also a demand to expand the currently running initiatives and introduce new skill development courses aligned with modern technology. This, it is believed, will create new employment opportunities for youth. The labour welfare board has been urged to take note of these demands, restart the closed schemes immediately, and improve the efficiency of the centres to ensure the economic upliftment of labour families.

Driving licence support for workers’ children

The labour welfare centre is providing financial assistance for obtaining driving licences for children of labourers. Families are encouraged to avail themselves of this benefit.

– Bhalchandra Jagdale, assistant welfare commissioner