Chir Pine needle based handicraft training conducted in Nowshera

Rajouri : Handicrafts Training based on Chir pine needles as raw material was conducted in Sunderbani Range with an aim to generate livelihood among local youth and to prevent the forest fires, for which Chir Pine needles act as fuel.
Every year forest fires occur in Nowshera Forest Division causing loss of forest and wildlife. Collection and processing of needles would help in prevention of forest fires thus averting major disaster. Sunderbani Range of Nowshera Forest Division started preparation of handicraft items using Chir Pine Needles. A number of items such as Baskets, Trays and Hats have been prepared using Chir Pine Needles by involving Village Forest Committee Brevi.
Two VFCs Salheri and Brevi have been selected for the innovative work as pilot projects.
At the initial stage, a Self Help Group of 10 women has been constituted at Brevi, which is making the handicraft items.
An advance training program was organised at Salheri in collaboration with District Administration Rajouri initiated the advance training for the women SHGs who are associated with the production of handicraft items.
The training will last for 10 days for which core trainers are invited from Himachal Pradesh.
Neelima Shah, Divisional Forest Officer Nowshera interacted with the members of SHG and members of VFC.
During the interaction, she informed members of SHGs about the possible help to be provided by the department. She also mentioned that forest department is working towards Market linkage of SHG for the marketing of Handicrafts. While interacting with SHG, she said that the Nowshera Forest Division is working on linking the SHGs with the market as the members are preparing attractive products. The products prepared by SHGs have been named as “Chir Dasthari”.
Range Forest Officer, Sunderbani, Rakesh Verma made the arrangements for training in collaboration with Vinod Banyal, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sunderbani. He said that 50 women have already been trained at different levels and they are preparing a number of products, which are ready for market.
Vinod Banyal, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sunderbani said that it will generate livelihood on the one hand and curb Forest Fire on the other hand.
Ruchi Sharma, Superintend ITI Sunderbani was also present on the occasion.
The workshop will be conducted under the direct Supervision of Vivek Kumar, Conservator of Forest West Circle Rajouri, Rajesh Kumar Shavan, District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, Mrs Neelima Shah IFS Divisional Forest Officer Nowshera, Vinod Banyal, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sunderbani and Rakesh Verma Range Forest Office, Sunderbani.