Move to help wards of deceased fireworks unit workers

Minister for Social Welfare K. Jegadeshwari on Thursday inaugurated Uyir — Fireworkers’ Family Welfare and Rehabilitation Trust, formed to provide assistance to the wards of fireworks workers killed in accidents.
The trust has been formed under Virudhunagar District Innovative Scheme, Uyir. The Minister handed over notebooks, bags and stationery 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 the Uyir scheme and a trust under it.
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.
Earlier, the Minister inaugurated a State-wide community baby shower programme to benefit 43,600 pregnant women in Rajapalayam.