Port Blair, June 15: The NABARD in association with the Yuvasakthi (NGO), Port Blair has launched a maiden project for rural Self Help Groups namely Livelihood and enterprise development programme (LEDP) on bamboo handicrafts at Diglipur on 14th June 2016.
This programme is an unique initiative and has the distinction of being the first programme to be launched in A&N Islands under the initiative of NABARD. Aimed at tapping the potential of vast availability of bamboo in North & Middle Andaman area in order to provide sustainable livelihood to rural women, this programme has been launched. In a formal ceremony held in the Gram Panchayat Hall of Subash Gram, Diglipur, Smti Alpana, Pradhan of Subash Gram GP was the Chief Guest wherein Mr.Swapan Mallick, IPO i/c had also attended and presided over.
During her speech, the Pradhan, Subash Gram GP lauded the efforts of Yuvasakthi in bringing sustainable development and livelihood to the rural women of Diglipur for the last one year and pledged her support for various livelihood programmes. Mr.Swapan Mallick, IPO I/c also reiterated the support of Industries Department in developing sustainable livelihood to rural women through entrepreneurship programmes introduced by Yuvasakthi.
Earlier, the programme commenced with the welcome address given by Smti Sujata, CLRP, Yuvasakthi. Mr.P.Senpagaraja, Founder, Yuvasakthi delivered key address on the objective of launching the programme and explained the benefits to the participants. According to him, this programme is targeted at imparting specialised skill development training on bamboo handicraft to rural SHG members.
Initially, one batch of 30 members will be imparted training and likewise two more batches of 30 members each will be imparted trainings subsequently.
First fifteen days of the training will be targeted at educating basic things about bamboo handicrafts and subsequent each fifteen days will be aimed at enhancing skill sets. Once trained, these three groups would be clustered and involved in entrepreneurial activities on bamboo handicrafts which will provide livelihood to more than 100 households while providing a permanent identity to Diglipur as a hub of bamboo handicrafts.
More than 100 participants had attended the programme and evinced keen interest in registering themselves. However, initially 90 members were allowed to be registered themselves as three separate batches and accordingly, first batch of training has already commenced on 14th June 2016 at the Yuvasakti Skill Training Centre at Madhupur Road, Subash Gram, Diglipur. The programme ended with the vote of thanks proposed by Shri Bidut, Key Resource Person, Bamboo Handicrafts.
