Women Empowerment

Supporting women's livelihoods and empowerment through various programs.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT CENTER (WEC)

A MISSION TO CHANGE LIVES OF UNDERPRIVILEGED WOMEN Empowering women is the only way to strengthen the society. In our community, women have faced a range of structural and social barriers in fully participating in the Indian economy which not only hinders their individual growth but also limits our nation’s ability to continue to modernize. Women Empowerment is more about supporting women with an insight, about securing their fundamental rights. In India still 70% of population lives in rural regions who are deprived of economic and social benefits. In India 01 of every 14 women is a widow, about 68% widows live in rural regions and 75% of the rural individual survives on INR 33 per day.

The Women Empowerment Center aim to the quote “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a family (nation). This well-known saying is attributed to the Ghanaian scholar Dr. James Emmanuel Kwegyir-Aggrey (1875-1927), one of this century's greatest educators”. Education for the girls is more important as she not only builds the home but all routine responsibilities are taken care of by her. An educated woman not only helps in nourishing the family in a better way but can also help in earning. Rightly said that God made the mother because He could not be present everywhere. It was noted that women needed to have a greater awareness of the factors affecting within a development context with reference to earning and learning.

In particular, it was suggested that women viewed and worked with project as active participants in development, rather than passive receivers of welfare services. Therefore we organized two days workshop on women empowerment through introduction of various Govt. schemes for the welfare of women. The workshop was organized at CNI SSI Hall Nagpur. Mrs Aradhana Upadhyay Director of Social orgnisation CNISSI, Mr. Sandesh Sudhakar Director of Pragati Ecumenical Center and Mr. Sunil Jonathan President of Love And Care India Trust and Mr. Dilip Randive gave details of the various schemes. Literature of the schemes and its application were distributed to the participants free of cost. For clear understanding of the participants of Govt. schemes and doubts, question hour session was kept after the detailed presentation of each scheme.

The socio-economic imbalance deprive most rural women of fundamental rights. Empowering women through skill development is the key to poverty reduction and social upliftment with manifold impacts on personal development, family subsistence, children education, decision making, gender equality and respect. Women do not get equal opportunities to earn livelihood compared to men. Women empowerment helps women to build up their earning capacity, creating their unique identity through gender equality. LACIT had formed 15 women SHG for the women of Isasani and bhim nagar slums. The workshop and seminars are conducted with the different issues to empower them. The issues are ; a) Various government schemes for the welfare of women. b) Importance of SHG for entrepreneurship c) Kitchen gardening d) Child health & Hygiene e) Nutritional foods f) Jam and pickle making g) Candle making

Also Beauty parlor course was conducted of six months duration for 15 girls, widows and women to earn their livelihood. After the course certificates was given to all the participants with the hands of the Corporator Mrs. Shalinitai Ghire in the presence of community leaders and the elders. Women Empowerment Centre (WEC) endeavors to make a positive impact in the lives of widows and women who are below the poverty line (BPL) and provide them the opportunity to pursue their dreams so that they can live their life with dignity and become self-reliant that they really deserve.

Beauty Parlour Training

Benefits of Women Empowerment Schemes

The introduction of various women empowerment schemes has benefited women in multiple ways. These are -

 Women have been able to gain social security.

 They can gain advanced training related to skill development and others and increase earning opportunities.

 Women can address their issues more freely and quickly with the government or local concerning authorities.

 Working mothers can now ensure proper care of their children by keeping their children at daycare facilities. Thus, they need not compromise their jobs/careers for family.

 They can ensure dignified living (at government hostels) away from home.

Total 137 widows and women participated and benefitted. The participants were informed of schemes, how to apply, required documents to be submitted. The WEC also organized an exposure for the young girls of the school on Banking in joint collaboration with Standard Chartered Bank, Civil lines. The aim of the exposure was to provide full know how of, opening of accounts in a bank, doing transactions, use of Cheques, Saving schemes and its importance, Do’s and Dont’s of the use of ATM card, PAN card, Demand Draft and Students loan scheme. 18 students participated and benefitted. Refreshment was served by the Bank.

Tailoring Project

The tailoring center opened in the slum of Nagpur called Bhimnagar in Hingana taluka is developing confidence among the underprivileged young girls and women. Priority is given to single parent’s adolescent girls and women whom the husband left for another women, Women whose husband or father is heavy alcohalic. The center has 56 trainees enrolled. They are given training to stitch designer blouse, kurta pajama, salwar kurta, children shirt, pants, and frocks, petticoats etc. The trainees are also given full know how of Govt’s scheme for obtaining loan to become self entrepreneurs, free sewing machine to lower cast women etc. The center is doing excellent work for the welfare of the community especially underprivileged girls and women with the untiring efforts of tailoring teacher Mrs.Dipika Bhange and helper Mrs. Sangita Aaglave.

The innovative approaches of WEC

1. Safe space: Providing a secure environment for women to share experiences and receive support.
2.Economic empowerment: Skill development, entrepreneur-ship training, and financial literacy.
3. Education and awareness: Enhancing knowledge on health, rights, and social issues.
4. Psychological counseling: Addressing trauma, domestic violence, and mental health concerns.
5. Social mobilization: Fostering collective action and community engagement.
6. Leadership development: Encouraging women to take on leadership roles.
7. Networking: Connecting women with resources, services, and opportunities.

Objectives:

1. Inform and facilitate access to government schemes for women.

2. Foster entrepreneurship and income generation opportunities.

3. Promote child health, hygiene, and nutrition.

4. Create a supportive community for women's empowerment.

Government Schemes

1. Information dissemination on schemes (e.g., PMMVY, PMJDY).

2. Assistance with application processes.

3. Beneficiary identification and outreach.

Child Health and Hygiene

1. Immunization and vaccination drives.

2. Nutrition counseling and supplemen-tation.

3. Sanitation and hygiene awareness.

Allied Programs

1. Legal aid and counseling.

2. Educational support for girls.

3. Community events and awareness campaigns.

Programs and Services by WEC

Entrepreneurship

1. Vocational training (e.g., tailoring, crafts).

2. Business planning and mentorship.

3. Access to microfinance and markets.

Income Generation Plans

1. Skill-based training (e.g., stitching, embroidery).

2. Livestock and agriculture support.

3. Digital literacy and online opportunities.

Impact of WEC program

1. Improved economic stability for women.

2. Enhanced health and well-being.

3. Increased access to education and skills.

4. Empowered women leaders in the community.