MIAO, 2 May: A skill development programme (SDP) on ‘sewing machine operator’ was launched at the Choephelling Tibetan settlement here in Changlang district on Monday.
The programme is being sponsored by the NABARD, and will be implemented by the Bethel Life Care Charitable Trust (BLCCT), in collaboration with the Choephelling Tibetan Service Cooperative Society Ltd (CTSCSL).
During the inaugural programme, CTSCSL secretary Tenzing Rabjor emphasised on “local production and creating market linkages, keeping in view the price competitiveness and quality upgradation, to penetrate existing markets.”
NABARD DDM Kamal Roy highlighted the developmental interventions of the NABARD in the district, and said that plans are afoot to “promote and nurture off-farm producers’ organisation (OFPO) out of the trained entrepreneurs.”
He informed that the OFPO “is a legal entity formed by primary producers who will be involved in off-farm activities such as handlooms, handicrafts, artisan products, agro-processing, etc.”
He also presented a brief on the NABARD’s initiative to promote geographical indications (GI) products, which he said “is an intellectual property right that identifies goods originating from a specific geographical location and having distinct nature, quality and characteristics linked to that location.”
Miao ZPM Asamto Tikhak spoke about the “scope and importance of skill training to enhance the socioeconomic status of rural masses, especially women entrepreneurs,” while 11th Assam Rifles Major Simranjeet Singh advised the trainees to “tap the opportunity through SDP.”
ArSRLM Block Mission Manager Kenny Riba said that “the SDP will help SHGs by skilling them and providing employment either in jobs, mostly in high-growth sectors, or in remunerative self-employment and micro-enterprises.”
BLCCT president Chandan Prasad informed that “the training will enable rural women to improve their skills in producing indigenous designs.”
Kits were later distributed to the trainees, the NABARD informed in a release.
