A training for rural artisans in skill upgradation

JAIPUR: A training programme is under way for rural artisans and members of panchayati raj institutions in skill upgradation, marketing techniques and information about raw material at Udaipuria village near Chomu in Jaipur district. The programme is being organized by CUTS Centre For Consumer Action, Research And Training (CUTS-CART), Jaipur, in partnership with Canada Fund for Local Initiative (CFLI) of the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi.

The seven-day training is being imparted under a project, “Promoting greater role of the Panchayati Raj Institutions in Rajasthan to foster rural livelihood opportunities: Meeting the challenges of globalisation and economic liberalisation”. Under the project, similar training will be organised in the districts of Bharatpur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Dungapur, Bundi and Tonk in the coming months.

Shri Shyam Sanskriti Sewa Samiti, an NGO, is the local organiser of the training, along with CUTS-CART. “This is an honour to village Udaipuria,” said Tufan Meena, president of Govindgarh Panchayat Samiti, while inaugurating the training on Thursday. “The local artisans who are working on leather accessories in and around Udaipuria need to get more such opportunities to upgrade their skills, to sustain in the competitive market,” he said.

George Cheriyan, Associate Director of CUTS, said Rajasthan had a big potential in the rural non-farm sector, especially in handicrafts. The objective of the current project was to promote products which have not got the attention of the international market yet, he said.

Manish Dubey, coordinator of the project, said the focus was on rural artisans working on leather accessories.

URL: http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/21/stories/2007072155140700.htm