Tribal women in Mullangadu, Coimbatore, express outrage as police intervene to stop free tailoring classes aimed at their economic empowerment, citing undisclosed law and order concerns.
Coimbatore: A free tailoring training program for tribal women in Mullangadu, Coimbatore, was abruptly halted by the local police, sparking outrage among the participants and organizers. The initiative, aimed at empowering tribal women economically, was organized by a Coimbatore-based NGO called NERD in the community hall of Mullangadu.
The training program was designed to provide tribal women with tailoring skills and support them in starting their own businesses. The organizers had planned to offer sewing machines to the participants and assist them in securing bank loans for self-employment. Over a hundred tribal women from the village and surrounding areas were participating in the program.
However, the Alanthurai police arrived at the venue and ordered the cessation of the training classes. According to the tribal women, the police insisted on removing the sewing machines from the community hall. When questioned about the reason for the interruption, the police cited potential law and order issues but failed to provide specific details.
The tribal women expressed their frustration, stating that the police did not listen to their pleas for protection and continuation of the program. They questioned why the authorities were obstructing NGOs trying to help improve their economic conditions. "The police neither help us nor allow others to assist us," lamented one of the participants.
The program coordinators claimed that they had obtained the necessary permissions from government officials to conduct the training camp. They alleged that there might be a conspiracy behind the police action to stop the job training camp for tribal women.
The incident has raised concerns about the challenges faced by tribal communities in accessing skill development opportunities. The NGO representatives have urged higher officials to intervene and allow the unhindered continuation of the training classes for tribal women.
This situation highlights the need for better communication and coordination between law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and local communities to ensure that well-intentioned development initiatives are not disrupted due to misunderstandings or unspecified concerns.