Ampati, December 30: Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma today launched the Production Facilities for handloom weavers being set up in different locations across South West Garo Hills district and a Manufacturing Unit for Herbal Cosmetics to support rural livelihood in a combined programme organized at Ampati Mini Stadium.
The launching programme was also attended by Mahendraganj MLA, Dikkanchi D. Shira, Deputy Commissioner Cyril Diengdoh, SP Ampati, Bobby W. Momin, officials of Border Areas Development and Commerce & Industries departments, other district officials, teams from Voluntary Association for Social Upliftment (VASU) and School of Livelihood & Rural Development (SLRD) and hundreds of trained workforce in handloom weaving, zardozi craft and state-specific souvenir making among others.
It may be mentioned that the training programmes were facilitated by IBDLP and District Commerce & Industries Centre for as many as 800 partners women in Zardozi craft and 200 in souvenir making under the supervision of VASU and SLRD in the last couple of years and the cheques were distributed to the trained partners as “seed money” to start their own enterprises by the Chief Minister during the programme.
The Multi-Facility Centres constructed under Border Areas Development Programme in various parts of the district would function as production facilities for handloom weavers and manufacturing unit for herbal cosmetology.
In his address, the Chief Minister said that the government came up with various programmes to provide livelihood opportunities to rural poor after identifying various challenges faced by them in terms of income generation. As such several training programmes were initiated in various skills including zardozi craft, herbal cosmetology and state-specific souvenir making. Once they complete the training, seed money is given to facilitate them to open up small and micro enterprises, he said, adding that marketing linkage and buy back arrangement for their products were also being made.
“This is a step towards true empowerment of the weavers and will motivate them to become entrepreneurs. If there are production centres close to their homes they will not be forced to leave their homes and families in search of opportunities. It will also create a chain of economic activities and open up many collateral business opportunities”, he said. He also asserted the need for having trained workforce so as to ensure that the production centres flourish.
He also expressed his gratitude to the training partners – VASU and SLRD – for having been persistent in their efforts and ensuring the success of these programmes.
The Chief Minister, along with Mahendraganj MLA Dikkanchi D. Shira, also distributed building materials like CGI sheets to the beneficiaries under Chief Minister’s Housing Assistance Programme and cheques were also distributed as seed money to provide support to the partners under Livestock Mission for making their livelihood in the livestock sector.
Deputy Commissioner Cyril Diengdoh who chaired the launching programme said that the production facilities and units would soon become functional. Assistant Director, Border Areas Development, Tura E.G.R. Marak and Gaonbura of Kumligaon, H. Koch were among others who also spoke on the occasion.
