Port Blair, Mar 26: The valedictory function of MEDP on Tailoring, Fashion Designing and Sewing Machine Repairing organized by Unnati at Shoal Bay-12 with the support of NABARD and in association with Block and Panchayat concluded on 21-03-2023. On this occasion, Mrs. Swati Ranadive Assistant General Manager NABARD was Chief Guest and Mr. A. R. Kumar Pradhan Shoalbay was Guest of Honour. The Chief Guest appreciated the training programme conducted by Unnati and advised the trainees to make use of the knowledge they learnt from the training to start tailoring and fashion designing as a self employment venture. Mr. A. R. Kumar Pradhan Shoalbay appreciated the efforts of NABARD and Unnati for providing quality training in the capacity building of women groups through various training programmes which all trainees also highly appreciated. He also requested the duration of the tailoring programme be extended for a longer period at least 06 months. He further said in Shoal Bay Panchayat a large number of youths are unemployed youths, they need to be engaged in self employed activities by imparting training based on locally available raw materials and having potential like bamboo craft, marine based food processing and livestock related activities. Mr. Francis Samithi member said local unemployed youths will also be sent to the mainland for their capacity building in coconut based products and the trainees are assisted to procure machines and equipment at subsidized rate besides arrangement of poultry feeds to small poultry units. Non-availability of poultry feed is the main constraint in adopting poultry farming. The issues emerged during the interaction session are as following:-
1. Duration of tailoring and fashion designing training to be considered at least 06 months.
2. Marketing support and to restart the sales counter of the Directorate of Social Welfare which was established for sale of SHG products.
3. The deputation of candidates to Coconut Development Board, Kochin for undergoing training on coconut based products.
4. Establishment of common food processing production center by Industry Department with all food processing equipments, machines and license issued by Food Safety Department to enable to use by those trainees who are finding difficulty to complete various terms and conditions with regard to issue of food license as was being provided by NGO in the Industrial Estate Dollygunj, now closed.
Mrs. Monica Bilung trainer donated one Sewing Machine to Mrs. Laxmi Bai trainee belonging to BPL family. Mr. C. Mohammed President, Unnati clarified the points raised by the participants and assured to take up the matter with concerned Departments. Mrs. Monica Bilung trainer and Mrs. Anbu Malar CRP also spoke on the occasion and mentioned the necessity of providing after-supports to the trainees after completion of training to set-up units.
