The trust has been formed under Virudhunagar District Innovative Scheme, Uyir. The Minister handed over notebooks, bags and stationary items to 83 students who had lost their parents in fireworks accidents. Besides, she gave cheques for ₹18,864 to four students under the trust for pursuing higher education, in the presence of Virudhunagar Collector N.O. Sukhaputra.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Jegadeshwari said fireworks industry had been the main source of livelihood for the people of the district. However, accidents at workspots claimed lives of the workers, pushing their family members in socio-economic difficulties.
The wards of the workers killed in the accidents faced severe challenges in getting education, health care, livelihood and social security.
In order to mitigate those challenges, the Virudhunagar district administration had initiated Uyir scheme and a trust under it.
“The objective of the trust is to coordinate with various government departments and provide assistance to the children of fireworks unit workers killed in workspot accidents and ensure a dignified life for them,” she said.
The trust would fulfil not only the present needs of the those children, but also their other requirements needed for their long-term development.
The main focus would be on preventing school drop-outs among those children, providing assistance for them to pursue school and higher education, including technical education, and ensuring health care, she said.
The trust would provide skill-development training for single parents to improve their livelihood by creating self-employment opportunities, industrial training and guiding them in other income-generation activities, the Minister added.
Sivakasi Sub-Collector Mohammed Irfan, Personal Assistant (General) to Collector Firdous Fatima and Sattur Revenue Divisional Officer Kanagaraj were among those present.
Earlier, the Minister inaugurated a State-wide community baby shower programme to benefit 43,600 pregnant women in Rajapalayam.