<p>ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WIDOWS THROUGH SELF-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, PRODUCTION AND MARKETING INITIATIVES BY NGOS IN ERNAKULAM DISTRICT- A CASE STUDY</p><p>Dr. Raji Joseph</p><p>ABSTRACT</p><p>In the present socio-economic scenario widowhood has become a formidable personal crisis. The reason is that majority of unemployed women in the middle class Indian families do not know how to earn money on their own when they are thrown into widowhood quite unexpectedly with the demise of their spouses. The number of such economically insecure widows is on the increase as the present study reveals, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.</p><p>Many NGOs have launched self-employment training programmes in order to economically empower the widows, realising the fact that the Government- launched widow- welfare schemes seldom reach them owing to different socio- cultural, psychological and familial reasons.</p><p>Irrespective of the family background, most women, especially in rural areas prefer to remain as housewives, mothers and home-makers. Though many of them are educated and qualified and a small percentage of them are temporarily employed, marriage makes them shift their priorities. Husbands being considered the bread- winners of homes, house wives seldom think of earning income on their own. When thrown into widowhood unexpectedly, their economic insecurity becomes the greatest crisis. This is aggravated by the needs of children primarily dependent on the widowed mother. Income from inherited immovable property is inadequate to meet the day-to-day expenses of a middle class family in our times. </p><p>The Government has launched various widow welfare schemes which seldom reach them and their economic insecurity has become overwhelming. It is in this context that some of the effective economic empowerment programmes launched by the NGOs in Ernakulam district call for a systematic study and evaluation. The economic empowerment schemes for widows launched by the NGOs in Ernakulam district through systematic self- employment training, production and marketing initiatives can be listed under the following demand-based areas like Soap and Soap Powder making,</p><p>Artificial Flower making and Floral decorations, Ornament making, Umbrella making, Carpet making, Sandal Stick making, Note Book binding, Industrial</p><p>Glove making, Mushroom cultivation , Rearing of Honey Bees and Stitching and Embroidery.</p><p>Significance of the Study</p><p>The economic empowerment of widows achieved through the NGOs' initiatives in Ernakulam district set an excellent model for the prospective framing of policies and strategies for widows at the state and national levels.</p><p>This becomes a pioneering initiative that empowers the widow otherwise rendered helpless in the context of our traditional social set-up which considers widowhood as synonymous with social ostracization and dependency syndrome. With the NGO initiatives as have been effectively launched in</p><p>Ernakulam district, self-reliance has been achieved and entrepreneurial motivation created among the helpless widows.</p><p>Objectives of the Study</p><p>1. To assess the socio- economic problems of widowhood at the National</p><p>Level</p><p>2. To study the State Government Initiatives for the welfare of widows in</p><p>Kerala.</p><p>3. To evaluate the self-employment training, production, and marketing</p><p> initiatives by NGOs in Ernakulam district.</p><p>4. To assess the benefits the newly acquired skill-sets and entrepreneurial</p><p> initiatives have given to the widows in Ernakulam district.</p><p>5. To evaluate the economic self-reliance that widows achieved through the</p><p> self-employment training programmes.</p><p>6. To study the prospects of the diversification of the training programmes so</p><p> that a comprehensive model strategy for the economic empowerment of</p><p> widows could be evolved in future.</p><p>Data Base and Methodology</p><p>Primary data for the analysis were collected through questionnaires from 300 widow beneficiaries in Ernakulam District and through an interview schedule with the lead NGO, Kerala Action Force. Convenience sampling</p><p> method has been used for the selection of respondents. Percentage method has</p><p> been used for the analysis of data. Additional data have been collected from</p><p> books, journals and websites to assess the socio- economic problems of widows</p><p> at the national level and the State Government initiatives for the welfare of</p><p> widows in Kerala.</p><p>Findings, Conclusion and Suggestions</p><p>The study had its primary focus on the socio-economic conditions that the</p><p> widows have to put up with in their lives. The analytical study of the widow's</p><p> predicament has been relevantly started from the mythical and customary</p><p> notions of our traditional society that still keeps the compulsive isolation of</p><p> widow from the main stream of our social life as an inevitability. A factual and</p><p> systematic evaluation of the issues and problems involved in a practical and</p><p> committed effort to empower the widow is the targeted purpose of the present</p><p> study. It is to be stated that any positive change in the widow's predicament</p><p> warrants a positive mind set and a change of attitude in evaluating widowhood</p><p> in real terms by the present day society. </p><p>Findings</p><p>The main findings of the study are the following:</p><p>1. The study conclusively proves that the most challenging problem that</p><p>Indian widowhood in general, and the widows in the selected area of study - Ernakulam district - in particular, faces today is lack of financial</p><p> resources and the resulting dependence syndrome.</p><p>2. It has also been proved that the much publicized Governmental Schemes</p><p> for widow welfare seldom bring about any positive change in the lack of</p><p> financial security and feeling of total helplessness in the average Indian</p><p> widow's mind- set This state of affairs, combined with the traditional</p><p> biases linked to the concept of widowhood, make the plight of the Indian</p><p> widow deplorably tragic in every aspect.</p><p>3. Setting aside the socio- cultural necessity of changing the attitude of the</p><p> society towards widows for which a cultural conscientisation of every</p><p> reasonable man is an absolute necessity, the study highlights the</p><p> effectiveness of various work-based and income- linked training</p><p> programmes imparted to widows by service minded and committed NGOs</p><p> like Kerala Action Force operating in Ernakulam district.</p><p>4. Ever since the effective Widows' Training Programmes were launched in</p><p>2006, after the founding of a Women Welfare Forum under the</p><p> organisational structure of Kerala Action Force, a large number of widows</p><p> were given training in specified areas of commodity production and</p><p> marketing skills. 5. The training programmes have been designed and implemented with area</p><p> specific relevance to the production and marketing possibilities of the</p><p> produced items so that the trained widows could start on an earning phase</p><p> in their life as soon as the training is successfully completed.</p><p>6. The Training Programme is followed by effective supportive measures</p><p> professionally taken up by the Organisation to raise funds and other</p><p> infrastructural support from banks, governmental and charity organisations.</p><p>7. The study reveals that the beneficiaries, having achieved high motivation</p><p> and self- confidence after the training could start individual or</p><p> organisational endeavours to produce and market items of their own</p><p> making, not with the insecure and helpless mindset of widows, but with the</p><p> competence and motivation of new entrepreneurs.</p><p>8. On the basis of the positive response the widows of the district almost</p><p> uniformly give and the endorsement to the efficacy of the training</p><p> programmes they unanimously make through the questionnaire, it has been</p><p> proved beyond doubt in the study that the Training Programme is an</p><p> effective and pragmatic step taken in the right direction for the cause of</p><p> widow empowerment.</p><p>9. The most important problems faced by widows are in marketing their</p><p> products. The respondents are of the opinion that lack of advertisement, competition from the organised sector, and no fixed place for marketing</p><p> their products are the most important problems that they are facing. </p><p>10. The study reveals that the beneficiaries have highlighted the necessity for</p><p> diversifying and updating the training programmes in areas like Software</p><p>Training, Professional Gardening, Catering and Organic Manure making.</p><p>All these beneficiary- recommended areas have great contemporary</p><p> relevance and obvious market demand, and this highlights the fact that the</p><p> training has evoked a high level entrepreneurial motivation and</p><p> enterprising spirit among the trained widow beneficiaries </p><p>11. The NGO, Kerala Action Force, has also taken up issues like legal support</p><p> and liaising with Government and local Self- Government Agencies for the</p><p> support of widows. They also have constructed and handed over houses to</p><p> widows with the help of other Service Organizations. It has been proved</p><p> beyond doubt that such a comprehensive supportive strategy and</p><p> empowering programme have instilled a great sense of self- reliance and</p><p> self-help among widows.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The study attempts to bring to light the fact that an individually supportive and work and skill- development-oriented training programme for widows is the most pragmatic method and strategy for empowering the sizable segment of widows in India that constitutes nearly 33 per cent of the population of the country. The empowerment strategy focused on training and support, as experimented successfully among the widows in Ernakulam district, testifies to this factual conclusion.</p><p>The study has revealed the urgent necessity to take up the socio- economic problems faced by widows in a realistic perspective and also with the commitment to implement the appropriate remedial measures in a systematic and effective way. It has also been found in the study that the inadequacies of the policy - based decisions and projects by Governmental Agencies have seldom addressed the real issues that the widows in India face at the grass root level in their domestic and social environments. </p><p>Suggestions</p><p>Based on the analytical and inferential aspects of the present study, the following suggestions have been made so as to ensure the empowerment of widows a reality rather than an ideal as it remains in the present day social set- up.</p><p>1. Financial insecurity linked with unemployment either optional or</p><p> compulsive as related to her family life is the fundamental reason for a</p><p> widow's total helplessness after the spouse's death. It is suggested that a</p><p> comprehensive statistical study of the personal, domestic and financial details of the widows of each Panchayath, Municipality, or Corporation</p><p> should be made by the Local Self- Government Agencies with their names</p><p> and personal details being statutorily and compulsorily registered with the</p><p>Agency.</p><p>2. If the widows do not volunteer to register owing to psychological or</p><p> domestic reasons, her immediate relations like in-laws, adult off-springs, or</p><p> the parents of the widows themselves should be made legally bound to</p><p> provide details of the widows for registration purposes.</p><p>3. Registered widows should be encouraged to attend the counselling sessions</p><p> even if they are income earners. Apart from being psychologically</p><p> empowering, such sessions should include professional advice by jurists</p><p> and legal experts as regards their rights in the inherited family assets,</p><p> movable and immovable. Such sessions will be attractive even for educated</p><p> and otherwise empowered widows in our society as very few widows are</p><p> aware of their legal rights and liabilities in the property that devolves upon</p><p> them after their spouses' untimely death.</p><p>4. Based on properly evaluated and categorized differences in educational</p><p> qualifications, aptitudes and skill- sets, widows should be grouped and</p><p> given training in professional domains of contemporary relevance. Due</p><p> consideration should be given to the rural, semi- urban or urban socio-</p><p> economic- environment and setting where the widow is opting to be self- employed and income- earning after the training programme. In other</p><p> words, a trained widow should be able to launch her own work project</p><p> without any psychological or practical problems.</p><p>5. The training programmes should be thoroughly professional from</p><p> beginning to end and highly motivational in nature. Along with the</p><p> acquisition of special skill-sets, the ultimate target of the training sessions</p><p> should be the emotional empowerment of the participant as well.</p><p>6. The experimental but effective training programmes launched by the NGO,</p><p>Kerala Action Force have been mostly in the traditional domains of</p><p> production and marketing. In the highly transitional global scenario of our</p><p> times, which is fundamentally based on Information Technology and use</p><p> of Software, training in Computer- linked areas is indispensible. It is high</p><p> time Computer- linked and Software related training had been given to the</p><p> widows for empowering them. Moreover, such a suggestion has been</p><p> received from the widow- respondents of the study also.</p><p>7. Manufacturing of organic fertilizers necessary for organic farming, lawn</p><p> and garden rearing, interior settings of new houses such as curtain- fixing</p><p> are the other areas which will be having increased customer demand in the</p><p> days to come. These domains should also be incorporated in the systematic</p><p> skill- development training designed for widow empowerment. 8. One of the difficult problems faced by the Widow Welfare Forum is</p><p> marketing the products. With the help of service -minded modern</p><p>Marketing Agencies or I T Professionals specializing in On-Line retailing,</p><p> free Web Sites or Social Media Pages can be launched so that the widow</p><p> entrepreneurs can market their products with updated facilities.</p><p>9. Banks and other financial institutions should be more supportive with</p><p> regard to the widow- empowerment programmes and their implementation.</p><p>It is suggested that liberal financial schemes be designed by the banking</p><p> institutions with the support of the Government for extending financial</p><p> start- up support to the empowered widow entrepreneurs.</p><p>10. There must be a concerted effort to involve NGOs and Quasi- Government</p><p> and Governmental Agencies as well as recognized Financial Agencies in</p><p> the comprehensive widow empowerment programmes envisaged for a</p><p> substantive and positive change in the lives of the widow segment of our</p><p> society.</p><p>11. Last but not least, the most important suggestion for the empowerment of</p><p> widows in the Indian socio- cultural setting is the strategic conscientisation</p><p> campaign to be urgently but systematically launched through the visual and</p><p> print media to uproot and eliminate the mythical, traditional, conventional</p><p> and essentially superstitious notions related to widowhood entrenched in</p><p> our social psyche, irrespective of the religious or cultural differences of our society. This campaign should target the modernisation of the Indian</p><p> society which is still bogged down by the dead weight of ridiculous myths,</p><p> beliefs, traditions and conventions and keep us conservative even today</p><p> even in evaluating the humanistic aspects of important social issues like</p><p> widowhood.</p><p>Such a strategic campaign will ultimately enable us to redefine widowhood in the 21st century context and perceive widow-empowerment as a real socio- economic necessity and challenge of our times. </p><p>****************</p>