Oued Ellil Municipality Launches Organized “Tabouna” Bread‑Cooking and Sales Points for Vulnerable Women During Ramadan
The municipality of Oued Ellil in the governorate of Manouba set up, at the start of Ramadan, dedicated cooking and sales stations for “Tabouna” bread. The stalls are organized and equipped and are intended specifically for women from low‑income families.
Background
- Previous conditions: The women previously worked under precarious circumstances, exposed to scorching summer heat or harsh winter cold while selling their bread on the street.
- Official statement: According to Ridha Hedi Mabrouk, Secretary‑General in charge of municipal management, the initiative is part of a broader re‑organisation of public space and an effort to enhance the urban landscape.
Objectives
- Decent working conditions for the bakers.
- Environmental cleanliness – limiting the chaotic installation of informal stalls and ensuring proper use of public land.
- Social support – creating income sources and strengthening social stability for disadvantaged families.
Implementation
- The regional governor and the local commissioner oversaw the allocation of the points to the beneficiaries, emphasizing the need to accompany vulnerable families and to promote sustainable income.
- The project’s budget is roughly 20 000 TND.
- It goes beyond commercial organisation; it carries social and environmental dimensions.
Social Impact
- The initiative provides a structured framework that preserves the dignity of the eight identified social‑case workers.
- It guarantees safety, health, and compliance with municipal regulations.
- Benefits include:
- Professional stability for the bakers.
- Economic autonomy and increased customer confidence.
- Long‑term prospects for similar social projects aimed at low‑income families.
Environmental Benefits
- The project enhances the aesthetics of the municipality’s main entrance by removing years‑old makeshift dwellings that lined the roadside and clearing accumulated wood and branch debris.
- Each sales point consists of a metallic, covered structure placed on a concrete floor, delivering a clean, organised workspace.
Ongoing Municipal Efforts
- The municipality continues to combat illegal occupation and “black zones” that tarnish neighbourhood images.
- During Ramadan, the service maintained morning and night time slots and reinforced municipal waste containers, now totaling 164 units, as part of the clean‑up park expansion program.
New Equipment & Future Investments
To support these actions, the municipality has acquired specific equipment, including:
- A backhoe loader (“tractopelle”).
- A compactor truck.
- A 10‑tonne lifting truck.
Additionally, a new truck is planned for purchase under a framework contract, financed by a 180 000 TND budget from the Fund for Loans and Aid to Local Authorities.
Keywords: Oued Ellil, Manouba, Tabouna bread, Ramadan, women empowerment, low‑income families, municipal urban planning, public space reorganisation, environmental cleanliness, social project, municipal equipment, waste management.
