Kerala: Cooperative society by and for widows

KOLLAM: The widows in the district have joined hands to stand on their own feet and help the destitutes among them to   lead a life of dignity.  They have formed a social welfare cooperative society aimed at making widows self-reliant  by promoting job-oriented enterprises. In the first phase,  2,000 widows out of a total of over 1.5 lakh in the district will be given membership.

“Widows face bitter experiences inside and outside their houses and are neglected even by their close relatives. They are not allowed to take decisions on their own. The destitute women struggle to make both ends meet after their partners’ death,” said G. Lakshmi Bai Amma,  president of the society. The destruction of traditional industries, including coir and cashew, has also adversely affected this group of women. The society will provide small scale-investment and loan facilities to the members.

Over 450 memberships were distributed after the society was registered  with a share amount of '100  each. Its youngest member is a  20-year-old woman. The A-class membership is  reserved for widows. The society will also collect share amounts from B-class members, mainly government organisations and departments, including local bodies, for financial partnerships. The capital will be used to provide  jobs to the widows based on their expertise in association with the projects by the state and central governments. The society will also offer health care to the needy  who have no wards to look after them.