RAJOURI: An advanced training programme on the making of handicraft items using chir needles was inaugurated today by Chief Conservator of Forests Jammu, K.Ramesh Kumar, here at Forest Range Sunderbani.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sunderbani, Vinod Banyal; BDO Dr Vikas Sharma; Station House Officer, S.D. Singh; Horticulture Development Officer Arun Sharma; Agriculture Extension officer Dr Davinder Jandiyal were also present as guests for this program.
The training program has been organised by Divisional Forest Officer Nowshera, Neelima Shah.
Sudeshna Kumari an entrepreneur from Him Pine Society Kangra Himachal Pradesh and the pioneer in Chir handicraft making was invited to impart training to the trainees as Master trainer.
Four self help groups of ten women each from five villages of Sunderbani have been constituted by Sunderbani Forest Range to train them in this trade.
These Self help groups are making different items using Chir pine needles. To make the products market oriented, an advance 5-day training programme for the women SGH groups has been organised by the department.
A display of items made by SHGs was the main attraction of the inaugural session.
Earlier, Neelima Shah welcomed the guests, while Conservator of Forests West Circle Rajouri, Vivek Verma presented a detail of the working of these SHGs.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, (Head of Forest Force) Dr Mohit Gera, joined the inaugural session through virtual mode. He appreciated the efforts of SHGs. He stressed upon branding of the products to get a good price in the market for the women of SHGs. He also interacted with Sudershana Kumari, Master who narrated her Start up journey with just few women and now exporting the handicraft to other states as well as abroad.
Chief conservator of Forests Jammu, K. Ramesh Kumar also addressed the SHGs and appreciated their efforts of making handicraft and noted that this skill of handicraft making can play a crucial role in livelihood security for many more women. Further, he presented a letter of appreciation to Sudeshana Kumari and Vikram Singh from Him Pine Society for their efforts towards women empowerment.
A letter of appreciation was also presented to Kala Khan Watcher from Sunderbani Forest Range, who is instrumental in the preparation of handicraft from Chir needles. Rakesh Verma Range officer Suderbani presented vote of thanks.