This article came out last weekend. WIM’s Woman of the Year 2008, Ms Vimalah says that Indian women from lower-income group (I guess those with household income below RM1500/month) are more interested in watching Tamil movies on television (Astro?) than taking advantage of the business opportunities available to them. This is among the finding of WIM”s committee visit to squatter areas, low-cost flats and estates. Members of the committee had visited most of the areas with high Indian population to invite them for seminars and to expose them to business networking.
“I informed them of the business opportunities, but they gave all sorts of excuses. I also told them about the type of business they could do, but the response is poor.”
Vimala said the opportunities were limited, but they could be developed into lucrative home-based businesses.
“I told them to spare several hours daily to make muruku and that I would provide them the links to market their product. Or to sew clothes which I could help them market.”
Vimala said she was also prepared to arrange for small loans for these people to start a business, but there was little interest.
All is not lost, as she noted that some women were doing well – involved in food industry or childcare.
However, some were doing well, making noodles at home and distributing them to restaurants and hawkers.
There were also some women who sold muruku and vadai or were engaged in child care.
I think this is expected. Some will need hand holding, while others will jump on the band wagon when they see their neighbors earn some extra cash. There will always be that small group unable to change nor to visualise the future.