Port Blair, Dec. 13: The valedictory programme of Basic Training Programme on Jute Shopping Bags of three weeks duration sponsored by National Jute Board (NJB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Kolkata & organised by Jute Service Centre-Port Blair (JSC-PB) in collaboration with A & N Consultancy Centre (ANCON) was held at the Parish Hall of St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Goal Ghar on Wednesday, December 12, 2012.

Er. M. N. Murali, Jt. Secretary & Director of Industries, A&N Administration, the Chief Guest on the occasion informed the gathering that today unemployment is a growing problem and the suitable alternative is self-employment. In order to achieve self-employment three requirements were to be fulfilled viz. Skill acquisition, arrangement of finance & marketing of the finished products. Assurance for all these aspects has been provided by the different agencies present here and it was for the trainees to come forward and take full benefit of the schemes available to them. A display of Jute products developed during the training programme was browsed by all the guests present. The chief guest alongwith other guests distributed certificates & beneficiary ID card jointly issued by ANCON & NJB to the 26 successful trainees.

Er. Johnson Abraham, JSC-PB in charge informed the audience about the details of the training programme undergone by the trainees. Totally 26 ladies were selected to undergo the training programme & the raw material, sewing machines etc were provided by JSC-PB. Various types of bags were taught during the training programme especially carry bags by a local trainer. The main objectives of this training programme is to generate income, provide employment, increasing sale of jute diversified products and thereby enhancing raw jute consumption. Some of the doubts of the Guests & trainees were also clarified relating to raw material availability, sewing machine grant for SHGs from NJB, loan requirement for operating jute unit etc. Further ANCON would also provide handholding support to the trainees for next 2 years free of cost to prepare project report, registration, arrangement of finance, marketing of jute product etc.

Among the others who spoke on the occasion were Shri Ravinder Rao, MD, A & N State Co-operative Bank Ltd., Shri Abu Backer, IPO, District Industries Centre, Rev. Anu Oommen, Vicar, St. Thomas Marthoma Church and Shri Prashant S. Shrotri, Br. Manager, Bank of India, Goal Ghar.

One of the trainees Smt. Bindu Vargheese shared her experience about the training programme & hoped that such training programmes will go a long way in making the womenfolk economically independent and focused on necessity of advance level training..

Earlier Shri A.K. Bhattacharjee, Advisor, ANCON welcomed the gathering while the vote of thanks was proposed by Shri Saikat Chakraborty, Associate Consultant, ANCON.