From Our shimla Correspondent
Development of rural areas and working towards rural prosperity has been the mandate and priority of the State Government. Keeping in view the fact that more than 90 percent of the population of the State resides in rural areas, putting in place the required infrastructure becomes all the more important. Apart from promoting agrarian activities, impetus on creating employment opportunities in non-farm sector is being given by the State Government.
The Skill Development Initiatives (SDIs) are basically aimed at capacity building of people in rural areas looking for wage employment or livelihood opportunities, both in group mode or individually. During the year 2009-10, 12 SDIs were sanctioned to 5 NGOs involving a grant assistance of Rs. 9.77 lakh. During 2010-11 (upto 30.11.10), 24 SDIs covering activities/trades like ladies bags making from leather, jute, cloth, plastic, rexin, etc, traditional shawl weaving, lahauli socks, scarfs, stitching & tailoring, beauty parlours, computer education etc. involving a grant assistance of Rs. 20.06 lakh were sanctioned to 11 NGOs in districts of Mandi, Kullu, Chamba, Solan, Hamirpur & Shimla to train approximately 600 persons.
Marketing plays a crucial role in development of any rural non-farm sector and as such grant/soft loan assistance for setting up of rural haats is being extended to the beneficiaries. During 2009-10, 5 Rural Haats covering Mandi, Una and Sirmour districts were sanctioned involving grant assistance of Rs. 23.74 lakh. All the five Haats are under construction and are most likely to be operational in first quarter of 2011. Further, all efforts are being made to explore the possibilities of setting up more Rural Haats in the State.
The scheme on rural Marts aims to facilitate marketing linkages for the artisans' handicraft and agro-based products through setting up of a retail outlet for covering the initial risk involved in setting up of a retail outlet. In 2009-10, 8 rural marts were sanctioned to Self Help Groups (SHGs) with a grant assistance of Rs. 7.67 lakh. During 2010-11 (upto 30.11.10), 10 Rural Marts with financial support of Rs. 6.63 lakh have been sanctioned. The main products being marketed through these marts are milk and milk products, soft toys, pickles, jam, jelly, sauce, chutney, sevian, vadi, plant fiber handicraft items from sisal, bugger and khajoor fibers, handicrafts, handbags, mobile covers, tea coasters, table mats, handmade paper, etc. manufactured by various SHGs.
Institute for Skill and Entrepreneurship Development (ISED), Darlaghat, Block Arki, District Solan, a joint venture of Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Ambuja Cement Foundation (NGO) was sanctioned a grant assistance of Rs. 7.46 lakh for conducting 20 training programmes for 280 candidate4s during the year 2010-11.
Under the Scheme for Skill Upgradation and Design Development for Handloom Weavers (SUDHA), a programme was sanctioned to Himbunkar, Kullu with grant assistance of Rs. 4.91 lakh. The objective is to promote skill upgradation, design development, product mix, quality improvement, marketing etc of the weavers.
0 comments