Empowerment of the marginalized women especially widows is very urgent and crucial for their socio-economic development. They need to be supported with suitable development schemes. The children of these women are the most affected and they need to be educated to groom them as responsible citizens. With a view to providing a holistic approach to the problems of the marginalized women, the Women’s Self Confidence Programme (WSCP) or “KAIKAL” in short, meaning “Helping Hands” was established in 1985 as a Unit of KSSS. The motto is to reach out to the widows, destitute and deserted women in Kanyakumari District. On account of the various steps initiated by KAIKAL, it has become a symbol and source of inspiration, self confidence, freedom and empowerment to all women who are suffering under the patriarchal society
Target people
Widows, Destitute and Deserted women
Objectives
To organize the widows, destitute and deserted women into groups and federate the groups
To enable them to gain self-confidence
To promote women leadership
To create access to small savings and credit facilities
To facilitate them to avail benefits of Government schemes
To redeem them from the unhealthy social customs prevailing in the society
Core Activities
Organizing the target people at village level into groups
Federating the groups at the block level
Promotion of women leadership
Organizing training programmes to trainers, leaders and members
Creating opportunities to take up self-employment ventures
Career guidance to the children of the target people
Promotion of thrift and small savings
Providing access to credit facilities
Guiding the target women to avail benefits of the social security schemes available with the Government
Providing financial assistance to the children of target people to pursue basic and higher education
Encouraging remarriage of widows
Problems to be addressed
Many of the target women are already in the debt trap, which is a challenge for their redemption
The widows are still to overcome the stigma attached to them by the society.
The neglect of the children of widows is very common and they need social protection
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