Mumbai: The state minority welfare department, through the Maharashtra State Skill Development Corporation, will be imparting hard skills to enable Muslim women to earn their livelihood.
The department has asked the Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVM) to form a self-help group (SHG) in 14 districts of the state.
An official said that close to 1,500 women from the Muslim community in Marathwada and Vidarbha will receive training in embroidery and tailoring, among 53 other vocations. The department will also issue a government resolution (GR) on this in a week’s time.
Shyam Tagde, Minorities Development Department, said, “The government is committed to improve the economic conditions of minority women”.
Officials said that the women will mostly be drawn from the Marathwada and Vidarbha region.
Two-hundred SHGs would be formed in each district whereby a total 2,800 SHGs would be formed in 14 districts.
These districts include Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Chandrapur, Wardha, Bhandara and Gondia in Vidarbha, and Beed, Latur, Osmanabad, Jalna and Hingoli in Marathwada.
Fifteen hundred women from these 2,800 SHGs would be identified and imparted vocational training.
An official said, “Close to '20,000 will be spent on each woman of the minority community to impart hard skills. For this project, '3.42 crore has been earmarked for the current year.”
The courses, which will be made available to these women, have a duration ranging from three months to 12 months. The MAVM will also help these women to get loans from banks.
