These programmes were especially developed to help single head women domestic workers to empower the single head domestic workers to face the vulnerability and the stigma of being single in society. Combined with their income from domestic work, this would improve their socio- economic status and ensure a sustainable livelihood and above poverty level standard of living for their families. It would also liberate single head domestic workers and their families from economic bondage through indebtedness, poverty and marginalisation in society.
To achieve the above objectives, domestic workers in this category were motivated to set up self-help income generating projects by providing credit assistance and training in entrepreneurial and business skills. These projects included activities like selling vegetables, fruits, eatables and clothes, petty shops, small eateries, veg. selling, chicken shop, clothes, rearing chicken/pigs, goats/cow making and selling Surf (washing powder) and Phenyle (Disinfectant), preparing and selling Homeopathic oil, running a catering service for gatherings and marriage parties and giving tents and chairs on hire for functions.
Based on their consent, these single head domestic workers form groups having regular monthly meetings. They are granted seed money based on their proposed operations. Each beneficiary is given up to a maximum of Rs.5,000/- interest free credit assistance for their business. This seed money is deposited in their own bank accounts and periodically monitored by the coordinator and the field staff. They are motivated to repay the seed amount within 2 to 3 years. The repaid amount will be revolved to another group of beneficiaries. They are also provided regular guidance in the form of skills training in the businesses they would take up, as well as basic training in budgeting, accounting and documentation.
As of end 2020, 1282 workers are engaged in these income generation schemes and their families have benefitted from this programme.