Have you heard of Muttram? Like the courtyard the word means in Tamil, this newsletter is run by women from self-help groups (SHG) across the state as place to discuss ideas. Thirty such women recently underwent a training course on journalism at the Loyola College in the city to sharpen their news writing skills.
The Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development for Women selected the women to write for the monthly newsletter that highlights issues affecting women and developmental activities organised by the groups.
Journalists and writers trained the women on basic newsgathering and writing skills. The workshop has been a new experience for the women, many of them who are from interior Tamil Nadu. “I used to write poems and short stories at home. But never showed them to anybody. But when my friends and trainers clapped when I read out my poem during the classes, I felt on the top of the world,” Tamil Arasi of Virudhunagar said.

(written with news agency inputs)