Port Blair, Dec. 2: 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 premises of Beodnabad Gram Panchayat office on Friday, November 30, 2012.
Smt. Maimuna, Pradhan, Beodnabad Gram Panchayat, the Chief Guest urged the trainees to be proactive by taking up self-employment in the jute sector & help to supplement the family income while at the same time improving the family’s economic condition. All possible help will be provided by the Panchayat to the trainees for self-employment & requested the banks to provide loan to the women trainees as they will readily repay the loan. She 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 who was a trainee in the initial batches and because of her perseverance she has been developed into a 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. He also informed the gathering that ANCON had introduced jute diversified products in these islands by organizing Jute Fairs since 2002 at Port Blair under the sponsorship of Jute Manufactures Development Council. Since then the awareness for Jute Diversified Products had grown and is being embraced by the local populace as well as the tourists visiting these islands.Though presently jute raw material is being procured from open market in mainland JSC-PB is trying to establish a Jute Raw Material Bank (JRMB) under another NJB scheme so that the entrepreneurs can obtain the raw material of their choice at mainland rates. Presently the market is tremendous in the islands as Govt. showrooms like Sagarika & Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan are having good sales due to tourist flow. Moreover the local retailers of consumer goods, cloths, apparels and other item are also in need of such bags for marketing their goods. He also requested the guests present on the occasion to browse the display of jute items made by the trainees during the brief period of three weeks training and which was of good quality. 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.He urged the trainees to come forward as all required inputs has been provided and all agencies required for successfully setting up a unit were brought on one platform at the doorstep of the trainees.
Shri Kishori Lal, BDO, Prothrapur Block, Guest of Honour said that the jute products have good market in present situation as there is huge tourist flow in these island. He urged to continue the production of jute diversified products by the trainees for achieving their economic goal with the help of all the institutions involved.
Shri R. Paramasivam, Ex-Pradhan, Beodnabad Gram Panchayat appreciated the role of ANCON in providing an apt training programme to the women of the Panchayat which should be well utilized by them and requested the bankers and other institutions to provide support to the trainees approaching for various types of assistance.
Shri Chandan Ghosh, LDM-SBI while addressing, told that there is a requirement to produce quality products as it will automatically attract tourist to buy jute diversified product like shopping bags. He urged to initiate venture with the help of various govt. schemes through bank.
Smt. Mani Malar, Dy. Manager, A & N SCBL, Prothrapur Branch encouraged the participants to apply for loan under the PMEGP scheme.
Smt. Sunila Kumari, Lady Mobiliser, NCUI also advised the participants to make full use of the training programme by initiating self-employment, availing loan and supplementing family income..
One of the trainees Smt. Bhanumathi 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 Shri 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 Shri Saikat Chakraborty, Associate Consultant, ANCON.