Port Blair, Dec 12: The valedictory programme of Basic Training Programme on Jute Shopping Bags of three weeks duration sponsored by National Jute Board (NJB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Kolkata & organised by Jute Service Centre-Port Blair (JSC-PB) in collaboration with A & N Consultancy Centre (ANCON), Port Blair was held at the Parish Hall of St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Goal Ghar on Wednesday, December 12, 2012.
Er. M. N. Murali, Jt. Secretary & Director of Industries, A & N Administration, the Chief Guest informed the gathering that today unemployment is a growing problem and the suitable alternative is self-employment. In order to achieve self-employment three requirements were to be fulfilled viz. Skill acquisition, arrangement of finance & marketing of the finished products. Assurance for all these aspects has been provided by the different agencies present here and it was for the trainees to come forward and take full benefit of the schemes available to them. A display of Jute products developed during the training programme was browsed by all the guests present. He also alongwith all the guests distributed certificates & beneficiary ID card jointly issued by ANCON & NJB to the 26 successful trainees.
Er. Johnson Abraham, JSC-PB in charge informed the audience about the details of the training programme undergone by the trainees. Totally 26 ladies were selected to undergo the training programme & the raw material, sewing machines etc were provided by JSC-PB. Various types of bags were taught during the training programme especially carry bags by a local trainer. The main objectives of this training programme is to generate income, provide employment, increasing sale of jute diversified products and thereby enhancing raw jute consumption. Some of the doubts of the Guests & trainees were also clarified relating to raw material availability, sewing machine grant for SHGs from NJB, loan requirement for operating jute unit etc. Further ANCON would also provide handholding support to the trainees for next 2 years free of cost to prepare project report, registration, arrangement of finance, marketing of jute product etc.
Mr. Ravinder Rao, MD, A & N State Co-operative Bank Ltd. said that the trainees have now been skilled by ANCON in the jute sector and this technical skill energy is to be suitably channelized and amplified to obtain good economic returns. The most suitable way is to work in groups by forming SHGs & availing finance.
Mr. Abu Backer, IPO, District Industries Centre explained about the role and activities of DIC including registration, providing of finance through PMEGP scheme etc. He urged the trainees to concretise their plans so that a suitable strategy could be worked out for self-employment, thus making full use of the programme.
Rev. Anu Oommen, Vicar, St. Thomas Marthoma Church appreciated the efforts of ANCON and congratulated the trainees on successfully completing the programme. He informed them to be prepared for advance programs and also to make efforts to make an Action plan for self-employment.
Mr. Prashant S. Shrotri, Br. Manager, Bank of India, Goal Ghar exhorted the trainees to come up in life with the skills learnt by them and to make a difference in society and also to improve their lifestyle. He assured the trainees of financial assistance if they approached his bank.
One of the trainees Smt. Bindu Vargheese shared her experience about the training programme & hoped that such training programmes will go a long way in making the womenfolk economically independent and focused on necessity of advance level training.
Earlier Mr. A. K. Bhattacharjee, Advisor, ANCON welcomed the gathering & anchored the programme with dexterity & also summed up the thoughts expressed during the programme.
Vote of Thanks was proposed by Mr. Saikat Chakraborty, Associate Consultant, ANCON.
