SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 26: ACIC IIT Indian School of Mines (Atal Community Innovation Centre) imparted bamboo craft training to remote area villagers to improve their financial condition through products.
In this regard, ACIC IIT ISM foundation in association with HDFC Bank Limited organized a week long training programme (April 19 to April 25) and taught the art of craft to 30 residents in Purnadih village of remote economically backward Tundi block, around 23 km away from Dhanbad district headquarters.
ACIC IIT ISM Foundation, an incubation centre, is funded by IIT ISM and NITI Aayog which aims to create opportunities for enterprises and start-ups. Bringing innovative solutions that solve community problems, it organizes skill development training for unskilled people.
Akansha Singh, chief executive officer of ACIC IIT ISM foundation, said following the training now trained villagers will be able to sell their products at a much higher rate in the market. “ Only source of income of Purnadih villagers was weaving baskets from bamboos. But after this training, they also learnt to weave new attractive products like flower vases, lampshades, pen stands, fruit baskets, star lights and coffee mugs from bamboo. Of course, they will be able to fetch higher income,” said Singh.
The ACIC’s CEO said it took more than three months time to convince the villagers about the requirements of the market. After that, he organized the workshop in which training was imparted free of cost through five expert trainers of Tinkerhat Innovation Foundation of Deoghar, Ranchi.
The CEO said before the training villagers were selling only one product of basket at a cost of merely Rs 50 in the market but now newly learnt skills will fetch them Rs 300 to Rs 1000 from the products like fruit baskets, flower vases, lampshades, pen stand, coffee mugs and other. “We have hired a local vendor who will collect the products made by villagers and ensure higher income for them. I have also listed their product on Amazon,” the CEO said.
