Sri Vijaya Puram, March 23: A three-day Sustainability Skill Training Programme was successfully inaugurated at the Buniyadabad Community Hall, Ward No. 8, as part of the establishment of the Wipro Earthian Community Sustainability Skill Centre.
The programme is being organized by the C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC) in collaboration with the Wipro Foundation, Bengaluru and the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council (SVPMC). The initiative aims to promote sustainable practices and enhance livelihood opportunities among local communities.
The inaugural session was graced by Mrs. Laxmi Ganesh, Ward Councillor of Ward No. 8 and Shri. K. Ganeshan former Chairperson of SVPMC, as the Chief Guest. The programme was also attended by Shri Vijaya Kumar, Senior Sanitary Inspector, and Shri Lalit Kumar Ekka, Sanitary Inspector, who participated as Guests of Honour and extended their support to the initiative.
Addressing the gathering, Shri A. Gopal, Project Officer, CPREEC (A&N Islands), highlighted the significance of establishing the Earthian Community Sustainability Skill Centre and emphasized the need for adopting eco-friendly practices at the grassroots level. He underlined that such initiatives play a vital role in building awareness, enhancing skills, and promoting sustainable livelihoods among community members.
The training programme, scheduled for three days, commenced with a session on banana leaf-based food packaging, providing participants with practical knowledge on eco-friendly alternatives to plastic. The upcoming sessions over the next two days will focus on coconut shell craft training, aimed at encouraging value addition and sustainable use of locally available materials.
More than 30 participants, including Self Help Group (SHG) members, women, and youth, actively took part in the programme. The training sessions are designed to equip participants with hands-on skills in sustainable practices such as waste-to-wealth concepts, eco-friendly product development, and alternative livelihood options.
The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation and received positive feedback from the community. Participants expressed keen interest in adopting the skills learned and contributing towards environmental conservation and sustainable living.
The initiative marks a significant step towards strengthening community-based sustainability efforts and is expected to serve as a model for similar programmes in other wards of Sri Vijaya Puram.