| Shiva Sakthi |
| It did not take long for doctors working in the clinic to realize that unless a more comprehensive approach is taken in the treatment of patients most health problems would recur and all attempts to prevent illness would be futile. |
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| It is common knowledge to health service planners that improvements in the socio economic status would bring about more health benefits than mere medical treatment. |
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| Shiva Sakthi was born out of this need to help patients help themselves. Women in particular, are encouraged to learn a skill. Patients who are too ill or old to be work are encouraged to send any other female member who could then becomes a source of income for the family. Young girls are encouraged to seek economic independence prior to marriage-thus giving them a safety net should problems arise later. |
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There are two income generating schemes, namely
1. Tailoring and hand embroidery- are relatively easy skills to learn and for which there are always steady employment opportunities.
2. Pickle and snack making- benefits older women who already possess culinary skills and find the process of acquiring new skills tedious |
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| The hand embroidery cum tailoring unit started in 1996 and the first candidate was the daughter of a patient with chronic pulmonary tuberculosis that had become resistant to most drugs as she had been so irregularly treated and was herself too ill to work. |
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| From this humble beginning the unit now has trained over 600 women and currently employees 50 of them. The unit has grown only by word of mouth. No attempt is made to actively recruit workers and no attempt is made to hold workers by written contracts etc. All workers are only encouraged to use the skill they have acquired to earn well – whether within the unit or outside it. |
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A few of the items created by these under privileged women, which are popular
1. Ethnic kids wear
2. Bags, pouches and dolls
3. Stuffed animal mobiles
4. Decorative wall hangings |
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Shivanjali Cafe
The women skillfully run a small all day cafeteria which serves Snacks, Chats as well as Malaysian food as a speciality. They are quick to learn the innovative new dishes and the result is a good feast for the guests. |
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