Impact of Kitchen Gardens as an Empowering Initiative for Mothers of Children with Disabilities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26725/JEE.2023.4.35.7141-7150Keywords:
Kitchen garden; Empowerment; Children with disabilities; Mothers; Income generation; Tamil NaduAbstract
This study explores the impact of kitchen gardens as an empowering initiative for mothers of children with disabilities in Chennai City. Kitchen gardens, can be established on small patches of land with minimal technical input, offer a sustainable solution for supplemental food production and improving the livelihoods of urban and rural poor communities. The study involved training 50 mothers of children with disabilities at Sri Kanyaka Parameswari Arts and Science College, Chennai in developing kitchen gardens within their small dwelling spaces. Participants were initially provided with seed kits, containing vegetables such as ladyfinger, brinjal, bottle gourd, cucumber and bitter gourd. This initiative led to increased income and enhanced nutritional security for the mothers. It also empowered them to balance work and family life by enabling them to sell produce in local markets. The study concludes that kitchen gardening is a sustainable and profitable initiative that economically empowers mothers of disabled children, allowing them to stay engaged in the home environment while providing care for their children.References
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