Venma Laundry unit is a Self Help Group (SHG) of economically disadvantaged women living on the banks of Punnamada lakes in Alappuzha district. The area is well known for its backwaters with tourism being one of the main sources of income for the people. Women members from the Venma SHG used to collect laundry from resorts and houseboats during the day and return washed clothes in the evening.
The floods Kerala in 2018 destroyed the SHG's laundry unit including the washing machines. Loss of tourism in the aftermath of the floods also affected their business. Manually washing dirty clothes is back-breaking work, but the women continued with it as they had limited financial resources. They needed to keep working to make ends meet.
As part of Oxfam India's recovery and rehabilitation program in the aftermath of the floods, we intervened with the help of the state government’s Kudumbasree initiative. The SHG was supported with industrial purpose washing machines. The unit now functions larger than before and generates a higher income.
Oxfam in India has been at the forefront of responding to natural and man-made disasters since 1951. Oxfam first came to India to respond to Bihar famine.
Oxfam India has a long and well recognised record of humanitarian relief in times of crisis. In the last ten years, Oxfam India has responded to disasters in Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Kashmir, Manipur, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Odisha. We have also provided aid to Internally Displaced Persons during Kargil War, Muzaffarnagar riots, and Kokrajhar violence.
Oxfam India provides life-saving support to disaster-hit people. This includes shelter, food, water and sanitation. Once the disaster passes, Oxfam India supports people rebuild their lives and prepare better for any future disaster.
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