The Punjab government is planning to upgrade the District Industrial Homes (Sanatzars) so that women can get the latest training to earn their livelihood through different skills. In an interview with WealthPK, Musaddar Riaz, Director General (DG) of the Punjab government’s social welfare department, said such homes are working across the province to empower women through different skills. “Now we are going to upgrade these centres so that women can get modern training in different fields,” he added. The official record shows that the project was launched in 1979 for the socioeconomic uplift of women. “Such centres were established in Lodhran, Pakpattan, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad and Narowal between 1994 and 1996,” he said, adding that women are learning various skills such as baking, computer, cooking, dyeing, dressmaking, driving, embroidery, food presentation, knitting, leatherwork, machine embroidery, making of washing powder, painting and others.

Riaz said after completing the training, the women could either join these centers or work on their own. “The officials of the centres will ensure provision of employment to the registered candidates,” he said, adding through the Sanatzars, the government is trying to keep women engaged with economic activities so that they could earn for their families and also strengthen the national economy. He said the government is also going to set up such centres at the tehsil level. A couple of weeks ago a social welfare research centre was set up at the Directorate General Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal, Punjab, which would prove a step towards evidence-based research, capacity development and policy analysis in the social sector. “A research committee has also been formed,” he added. Bushra Bibi, who got stitching training from the Peoples Colony Centre here, told WealthPK that the skill enabled her to earn livelihood for her family while staying at home. She said women used to visit her home seeking to stitch their dresses.

She suggested the women get training from such centres rather than visit homes to work as maids. “My training is making me financially sound,” she added. Meanwhile, another officer of the social welfare department told WealthPK that for the first time the provincial government is going to frame a social welfare policy. The first draft of the policy has been handed over to the government. He said that the policy aims to protect and rehabilitate vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities, children, and women. Under this policy, new institutions would also be established and the existing ones would be upgraded. He said that we would also collaborate with different brands in this regard. “Women are also being trained on how to market their products,” he said, adding without marketing one couldn’t get a good return on their products.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)