by BIS Correspondent
MUMBAI, AUG 31, 2016: Eighty seven female members of self-help groups (SHGs) from different slum communities were felicitated on August 29 at the Provincial House, Matunga, for getting either sewing 
machines or domestic flour mills from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
All the women are part of the SHGs started and managed by Don Bosco Development Society (DBDS). It was a struggle for last eight months for the staff of DBDS and the women; who fought for their economic rights and finally obtained it.
Father Bernard Fernandes, Principal of Don Bosco High School, Matunga was the chief guest for the programme. He congratulated the women and wished them good luck in their income generation endeavours.
Father Rolvin D'Mello, Executive Director of DBDS lauded the hardwork of the DBDS staff and the persistence of the women. He further extended his support to the women in their journey of economic empowerment.
DBDS as an organisation believes and practices the rights based approach to development and played a facilitative role in the whole process.
The staff of DBDS linked the women to BMC's gender budget scheme and educated them on their rights. It took about eight months of continuous follow-up by the women to obtain their entitled economic assists of sewing machines and domestic flour mills from the BMC.
Four of the women Reshma Ansari, Babli Naidu, Nanki Makvana and Shabnam Shaikh shared their future plans and dreams with the audience. Some of them even had tears in their eyes when they thanked Don Bosco for the help they received in their lives.