Assam: Kamrup West forest division conducts month long handicrafts design development training at Chandubi

Kamrup West Forest Division organized a month long Handicrafts Design Development Training in Cane & Bamboo in association with- Development commissioner (Handicraft) Ministry of Textiles, Government of India at Chandubi in Palashbari area from Wednesday.

The training has been conducted by the Skill Development in Handicraft Sector (NHDS) scheme of National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP).

An Inauguration program was held at Loharghat Range Inspection Bunglow premises at Rajapara village near Chandubi Lake organised by the Loharghat Forest Range. The inauguration ceremony was attended by West Kamrup Forest Divisional Officer (DFO) Dimpi Bora, Director of Development Commissioner Handicrafts North Eastern Region PC Haldar, Assistant Director Dhiraj Kumar, Abanta Bora, Designer, Master Craftsman  Basanta Kalita. Local people of the area including 32 male and female trainees took part in the inaugural program. The Inaugural program was presided over by the Loharghat Range Officer Shamim Akhtar. 

It is to be mentioned that, after joining as DFO in West Kamrup Division, Dimpy Bora has concentrated and constantly working for villagers living in the remote villages to develop their livelihood through various way under the West Kamrup Divisional Forest Office. To develop economically, DFO Dimpy Bora took initiatives as given bamboo ornament making training, training of nursery and much other training to develop the villagers, so that they can become self-reliant and financially self-sufficient. In this regard DFO Bora emphasized that in the last Chandubi Festival 2023, trained villagers took part in the fair of the festival and they sold around 1 lakh rupees items especially various bamboo ornament items. She also mentioning that those who got trainings on various subject, they were also been took to exposure visits conducted by the West Kamrup Divisional Forest Office.

DFO Bora said that they have conducting many training programs which includes Nagaon Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) 25 trainees trained for 1 month in Bamboo Handicraft and jewellery making during August 2022 with the support from State Bamboo Mission, Jupangbari JFMC - 20 trainees trained for 2 months during Nov dec 2022 in collaboration with the office of Development Commissioner, Handicraft, Bherbheri jfmc - 23 trainees trained for 1 month from 1 nov to 1 dec in collaboration with Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and ⁠Design development training start from today here at Rajapara village near Chandubi.

Kanaklata Rabha, a trainee of the one month Handicrafts Design Development Training in Cane & Bamboo said, "For the first time forest department helps us develop us economically by given such trainings like nursery training, bamboo ornament making training and also they provided all essential commodities." She heartfelt thanked to the Assam Forest Department and the DFO Dimpy Bora, "I have been able to support my family since I benefited from these trainings of the forest department. If the department had not taken such steps, we might not have moved forward financially today."
"West Kamrup Forest department takes us too many other places where people are engaged and earned with nursery culture, handicrafts and these kinds of items. We have visited Hornbill in Nagaland, Bornihat area in Meghalaya and many other places we have visited. Now we understand that with the help of those businesses we can easily economically stand on our own foot with less expense.

Director of Development Commissioner Handicrafts North Eastern Region PC Haldar said on his speech that through this training, we try to develop those artists who have already knowledge on this handicraft sector. By getting this one month training, trainees will clear their problems when they working on handicraft. Haldar also mentioned that best handicraft artist should take part in the National and International fairs with their own products. The expenditures of participants will be pay by the Development commissioner (Handicraft) Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. 
Coincidently, Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal students also took parts the auspicious program. According to the DFO, they were come to see how the Forest Department involved developing the rural community in Assam. 

It is to be mentioned that, West Kamrup Forest Division has been provided Artisan Cards by the Indian Government to 138 villagers under the West Kamrup Divisional Forest Office, who are working in many handicraft and other sectors for the first time.

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