Udhagamandalam: The gas station governed by the Tribal Research Center (TRC) in M.Palaada, on the outskirts of Ooty, employs 12 women from six district tribal communities.
This is the initiative of the Ministry of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, the Director of TRC-responsible to Udhayakumar to TOI.
“Model gas stations were established to empower tribal women.
The ministry comes with a scheme for tribal welfare every year.
This year, we chose the pump and RS 35 lakh sanctions for that purpose.” Gasoline and diesel sold at the pump with a discount 87 Paisa per liter.
Two women each of them from Toda, City, Kurumba, Paniya, Irula and Kattunakan Community work at the pump.
They work in two shifts on rotation and paid Rs 8,500 per month and 3% completeness benefits.
“The part of annual profit will be distributed among them as additional benefits,” said Udhayakumar.
The work made him feel like a woman who was empowered, said Uma from the tribe of Alu Kurumba.