CHANGLANG, 26 Jul: Thirty unemployed women of Changlang district headquarters benefitted from a 43-day skill development programme (SDP) on ‘Two-shaft handloom weaving’, which concluded here on Monday.
The programme was sponsored by the Itanagar-based NABARD regional office, and implemented by NGO Bethel Life Care Charitable Trust (BLCCT).
On the morning of the last day of training, Changlang DC Dr Devansh Yadav inaugurated an outlet and demonstration unit named ‘Metru’, in the presence of NABARD DDM Kamal Roy and others.
The DC lauded the efforts of the young entrepreneurs who developed the local brand Metru, and said that many local products can be promoted under this brand.
Roy advised the SHG members to “make unique items which can be marketed in the local area and also tap external market.”
He described the establishment of Metru by the rural women as a significant outcome of the SDP, and said that the “long-term objective is to promote and nurture off-farm producers’ organization out of the trained entrepreneurs.”
Changlang ADTH JP Bora spoke about the opportunities in the handloom sector, while NERCORMP BDO Nonju Tikhak dwelt on the scope and importance of skill development in enhancing the socioeconomic status of the rural people, especially women entrepreneurs.
NGO NOSAAP’s CEO Chau Athina Chauhai also spoke.
BLCCT president Chandan Prasad said that SDPs are on-location programmes “which attempt to bridge the skill deficits of production activities already pursued by the SHG members.”
Certificates were later handed over to the trainees.
