Madurai Non-Formal Education Centre

The organisation empowers women through various initiatives, including forming and training Self Help Groups (SHGs) to enhance social integration, cooperation, and self-reliance. Entrepreneurship and vocational skill development training aim to boost income generation. Capacity-building sessions focus on women's leadership for development and security. The organisation conducts awareness camps for adolescent girls, addressing hygiene, safety, and education. It advocates for basic amenities and social security benefits, benefitting over 900 women annually. The Mahalir Thittam project, supported by the Tamil Nadu Government, aids rural and urban women by forming SHGs, providing training, and facilitating micro-credit linkage for sustainable businesses. The initiative indirectly benefits over 4,500 individuals, contributing to women's empowerment and poverty alleviation.

In line with the Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India's Handicrafts Artisans Cluster Level Development initiative, Madurai Non Formal Education Centre (MNEC) has undertaken a proactive approach to address the economic challenges faced by 1200 women Handicrafts Artisans in Self Help Groups (SHGs) across Madurai Districts. MNEC has identified and enrolled these artisans in a comprehensive support programme, providing valuable training and distributing certificates. Notably, 444 identified women artisans have been included in the Reliance and Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana, an insurance scheme offering health and general coverage for outpatient and inpatient treatment for both artisans and their families, marking a significant step in enhancing their overall well-being.

Madurai Non Formal Education Centre (MNEC) prioritizes the fundamental human rights of education and health through its water and sanitation awareness activities. Operating in 156 villages and 100 slums, MNEC focuses on educating rural women on essential concepts such as avoiding open defecation, proper waste disposal, maintaining cleanliness in public areas, and preventing the breeding of mosquitoes in stagnant water. The organisation empowers women to engage with the Sanitation Department for the upkeep of cleanliness in their villages and slums. Target beneficiaries are guided to access clean drinking water through Government schemes by collaborating with local body personnel. MNEC extends its impact to school children, advising them on personal hygiene, handwashing, and maintaining clean toilets. It actively promotes the implementation of Rain Water Harvesting systems for sustainable water management in the target areas.

Madurai Non Formal Education Centre (MNEC) actively engages in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS through its Industrial Intervention Project (IIP). This initiative has successfully covered 216 industries, providing benefits to 39,278 men and women workers, along with 182 HRD management personnel. MNEC's efforts include training 470 workers to serve as Peer Educators and sensitizing 404 Trade Union Leaders. The project receives support from APAC/VHS/USAID in Chennai, reflecting MNEC's commitment to addressing and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS in industrial settings.

Madurai Non Formal Education Centre (MNEC) carries out an Adolescent Girls Health Care and Hygiene Awareness Program targeting young girls aged 12 to 18 in urban slums and rural areas. The initiative focuses on educating participants about menstrual hygiene, mental stress management, sanitary napkin usage, and the importance of personal hygiene practices such as handwashing, nail cutting, and adequate water consumption. MNEC extends its efforts to Community Health Care and Employment for Women Programs, addressing issues like malnutrition, anaemia, reproductive health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, and general community care. Notably, 30 slum women have undergone training and now serve as Community Health Workers, offering health guidance to their neighbours in 30 slums, thus contributing to community well-being.