The self Help Group (SHG) members in the villages, contributed their services, by
assisting the ICDS NGO, as volunteers. The programs, that were conducted at various places,
within and outside the office premises, with the participation of the people are narrated
hereunder:-
Amaldas Commercial Institute Students - 1st Batch
Amaldas Commercial Institute of ICDS affiliated to TN Technical Dept. of
Guindy, conducted typewriting courses – 12 batches
with 102 students successfully underwent the courses.
Typewriting courses through Trysem and TN social welfare Board, - 392 girls
were provided with stipends.
Tailoring courses sponsored through Trysem, TN social welfare Board and
THADCO Departments. 591 girls benefited and provided with stipend.
Computer Training courses were sponsored by TN Mahalir Thittam, THADCO,
and DIC. 414 students completed the courses and were provided with stipend.
Computer courses offered to 566 students on payment of nominal fees.
Aaarthi tailoring Institute at Kelambakkam, Mother Therasa Institute at
Thaiyur , Tailoring centres at Panangattppakkam, Manambathy & Thirupporur
were similar centers, through which 212 girls completed the courses. Those
who benefited at Thirupporur & Manambathy were SHG members.
Bag Fabrication unit at Kelambakkam office premises offered
employment to 18 girls for a period of 2 years.
Type - writing Institute
The Craft Development Centre, an unit of ICDS was started for the purpose of
encouraging the local people to learn the craft and thereby enhance their
living conditions. Through Koragrass mat–weaving program initially
undertaken, along with other traditional crafts, at this Craft Development
Centre. 50 women employed and provided with reasonable wages.
Importance of the program:
The Centre has adopted design consultancy from the experts from different
States, connected to the kora – grass mat-weaving. People knowledgeable and
experienced have given the design input to be adopted. Experts have also
given the designs and patterns have been tried. The unit has produced mats of
different designs and patterns in different kinds of kora-grass. Altogether
around 300 artisans got benefitted through design consultancy, training and by
sharing of their experience.
Leather shoes upper preparation unit functioned at ICDS office premises at
Kelambakkam; About 60 girls benefitted.
Mushroom cultivation program – A pucca thatched shed constructed in the
villages as per the approved norms. The Mushrooms Cultivation Training cum
production centre was thus established at Kelambakkam and Kayar villages, under
DWCRA scheme. The beneficiaries are from the SHGs around this area. 30 women
benefitted.
Bag Fabrication Unit
Screen printing unit was started at ICDS premises. About 22 persons benefitted
Candle making unit was stated at ICDS premises and 12 members benefitted.
Fur toys manufacturing unit was started in two places, namely Sembakkam
and Kelambakkam and a total number of 42 SHG members trained.
Plastic flowers & garlands manufacturing unit – this program was functioning at
ICDS premises
Palm - leaf articles production was the first program started by ICDS
from 1985 onwards at Thazhambur village. A total number of 65 girls
benefitted and they were provided with stipend; Palm – leaf handicrafts
products like door curtain, baskets, tumblers, grasslands, puppets, mats,
ornamental decorative items, etc., to suit the tastes of the local as
well as foreign buyers were produced. These were supplied to Victoria Technical
Institute, Dorcas and other buyers.
An interview session was organized at ourInstitute’s premises for selection under skill
training in various trades, including electric and electronics, auto mobile mechanism,
catering technology, cell phone mechanism and computer courses for getting the
coaching at two training Institutions located at Tambaram and another one at
Neelankarai. Of the 20 members interviewed here, only 4 have joined the courses and
availed the stipend upto Rs,1000/- each for the period of 6 months.
5 days training was organized at the Tamilnadu Agricultural University on Turkey
Farming. 30 woem members were selected for this course for a stipend of Rs.300/.
After successful completion of this course, each beneficiary could avail setting up of
turkey faming in their own villages, utilising a loan cum subsidy assistance scheme up to
20 lakhs rupees.
