Until a few days ago, R. Desika Rani, a differently-abled person was confined to her house as she could not find a job that could support her condition.
She is now among a group of women working at the Mylapore post office.
The Chennai City Central Division, Department of Posts, is training such residents to help them earn their livelihood.
Nearly 15 women from the fishing hamlet of Nochikuppam are being trained in pre-mailing services such as labelling and addressing business and bulk mails.
Ms. Rani, a resident of the fishing hamlet in Nochikuppam, said, “I was offered the job when the Postal Department held a camp in our area. The income from the job will be of help to run the house.”
The Postal Department has also offered similar jobs in the T. Nagar post office to residents of slums.
The department also plans to extend such daily wage jobs to more people from the marginalised sections of society
Alok Ojha, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Chennai City Central postal division, said: “We wanted such people to explore new job opportunities, while also empowering women.”
“We reached out to people through camps held for various user groups in the last one year,” Mr. Ojha added.
Identifying user groups
The division held camps for several user groups such as street vendors, fisherwomen, restaurant workers, drivers, patients affected by leprosy and transgender persons.
Nearly 4,500 postal accounts were opened by inmates of the Puzhal prison through the camps.
The inmates also enrolled for the Aadhaar.
The idea was to educate people about various welfare schemes of the government and help them find jobs.
Nearly 56,000 postal accounts, including saving schemes, were opened in the last one year through the camps, Mr. Ojha said.