Srinagar: The Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir on Tuesday inaugurated three Skill Development Programmes (SDP) at Craft Development Institute and Indian Institute of Carpet Technology, Baghi-Ali-Mardan, Nowshera, Srinagar.
The Skill Development Programmes have been started in three different areas vis-à-vis Papier-Machie, Carpet Weaving, Cutting and Stitching.
The programmes are aimed at providing training to candidates especially young women in order to hone their skill set for setting up gainful self-employment ventures as per the market demand.
The aim of the programmes is to help the candidates to be self-reliant and facilitate their capacity building so that they shall be able to explore sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The Short Term Training Programme which has started Tuesday at Craft Development Institute in pattern making, cutting and stitching shall be of 3 months duration with an intake capacity of 12 candidates and has been sponsored by the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir.
Another specialist programme which commenced Tuesday at the Craft Development Institute in Papier-Machie shall be of 6 months duration with an intake capacity of 40 candidates and has been sponsored by National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) in association with Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council (HCSSC).
This specialist course has been designed in Urdu language to preserve and promote the traditional decorative art & craft of Papier-Machie as also to meet the expanding needs of Urdu loving people related with Paper-Machie industry.
Besides, another Skill Development Course of 3 months duration has been started at Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) with an intake capacity of 30 candidates. The course has been sponsored by the Central Wool Development Board under the Human Resource Development component of Integrated Wool Development Programme (IWDP).
Director in his inaugural note stressed upon the need for inclusive human resource development and skill upgradation in Handicrafts and Handloom Sector especially in the languishing crafts.
He assured all possible help to the candidates so that they shall be able to upgrade their skills and avail maximum benefits under these programmes.
Upon successful completion of the training programme, these registered candidates shall also become eligible to receive assistance in establishing their Self Help Groups and Cooperative Societies.
The trained candidates shall also be facilitated to avail financial assistance under different schemes implemented by the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir. Through this initiative, the trained candidates shall be able to improve their socio-economic status and become more involved in nation-building.
