Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 398/10

TRAINING PROGRAMME ON SKILL UPGRADATION AT AMPATI

Shillong, September 1, 2010: A long-term Training Programme on Skill Upgradation for Promotion of Multipurpose Handloom & Handicraft Products, organized by the District Sericulture Department and sponsored by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), West Garo Hills under SGSY scheme, began at Ampati Mini-ITI on August 31, 2010.

The training programme was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills District, Mr. Sanjay Goyal, in the presence of ADC and Project Director, DRDA, Tura, Mr. Ambrose Ch. Marak, SDO (Civil) Ampati, Mr. Abhishek Bhagotia, officials from the Sericulture and Handloom Departments, other Sub-Divisional level Officers and the resource persons for the training.

According to the District Sericulture Officer, Mr. C R Marak, the training programme was chalked out for Ampati Sub-Division taking into consideration a large number of community in the area especially women consisting of traditional weavers, who have received initial trainings, but were confined to production of monotonous items. As a result, there was stiff competition in marketing their products and there was stocking of the unsalable products. Besides the products produced in the area could be used within the District only and this has been creating a sort of negative impact regarding the economic aspect of the industry and discouraging the existing weavers who were not able to get marginal returns to supplement their income. This has been mainly due to lack of awareness among the weavers about the marketing potentiality of the industry, coupled with lack of skill to upgrade and diversify their products into more common and attractive products of utility to make them marketable outside the State.

Thus, the main objective of this training programme is to overcome this critical gap with a view to equip the traditional progressive weavers with awareness and basic skills to go for production of diversified handloom products with value addition and export potentiality and to promote this traditional cottage industry into a more profitable and economically viable sector for the rural economy.

The training programme consisted of two components involving 20 SHGs in the area with a total cost of Rs. 12.60 lakhs. The first component is a one month’s training on production of eri and muga silk yarns on improved machineries. The second component consists of training on post-sericulture activities of dyeing, silk weaving and designing which will be conducted in two batches of 10 SHGs per batch, but since all members from each group cannot be accommodated, it was decided and proposed to select two members from each SHG who would represent the group in the training and who would in turn pass on the techniques they have learnt to other members after completion of the training. The duration of this component will be three months for each batch. Since the infrastructure provided for the training programme would be left unutilized and idle after the completion of the training, the District Sericulture Officer has suggested to the authorities concerned that the Mini-ITI at Ampati may be allowed to be used by the most dedicated and reliable SHG to continue the activity at the Institute for income generation, for which some amount for procurement of start-up raw materials may be provided under the scheme.

The Deputy Commissioner in his address said that while people in other areas have to go to the Blocks looking for schemes, the people of Ampati Sub-Division were very lucky that such a good project has come to their doorstep. Stating that the two main objectives of this training programme were income generation and empowerment, Mr. Goyal said that from among the 20 SHGs, 6 most serious groups would be selected for the training and during the training they would be graded according to their capabilities. He also said that the best and most interested group would be chosen to run the ITI as suggested by the District Sericulture Officer, for which they would have to make an agreement with the authority.

Others who also spoke on the occasion were the Project Director, DRDA, Tura, Mr. Ambrose Ch. Marak who chaired the inaugural function, SDO (Civil) Ampati, Mr. Abhishek Bhagotia, District Handloom Officer, Mrs. C B Sangma and Extension Officer, Sericulture, Ms. Sanre G Momin.

Press Release No. 399/10

DR. LAPANG INAUGURATED THE MYWA INSTITUTE OF COMPUTER AND TECHNOLOGY

Shillong, September 1, 2010: Dr. D D Lapang, Chief Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya and local MLA inaugurated the MYWA Institute of Computer and Technology at Marngar village, sanctioned under the MLA Scheme and two latrines of Borkushi and Sarikushi village sanctioned under MDC Scheme in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi District, Mr. Akash Deep Singh, local MDC, Mr. C Lyngdoh, Mr. C B Syiem, Ex-MDC, local headmen, teachers, students and the local people.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Lapang expressed his appreciation to the Marngar Youth Welfare Association (MYWA) for the work that they render for the welfare of the youth of the area. He said that young students being the backbone of the nation should work closely with teachers for their all round development. While stating that computer education is fundamental in today’s education system, he felt it is important to introduce the subject at the primary level of schooling so that each and every student has the basic knowledge of computers. He hoped that the inauguration of this institute would be of immense benefit in this direction.

The day ended with the felicitation programme for the HSSLC and SSLC students of the year 2010.