Khadi Board bats for skill devp training through three projects in Bankura

KOLKATA: The West Bengal Khadi & Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) has taken up three different projects in Bankura district for livelihood development of the people in rural areas through skill development training in product diversification.

The three projects will cover blocks of Chatna, Kenjakura and Ranibandh . "Soon, we are launching a project in which wood apples (Bael) will be used for manufacturing various decorative items. A private agency will be entrusted with the responsibility to train around 1,200 people in Kenjakura, Bankura," said Mrityunjoy Bandyopadhyay, CEO of WBKVIB.

The agency has already started a survey to assess the products that can be carved out. It may be mentioned that around 1,200 people in Kenjakura are experts in making garlands with wood apples and a major portion of the fruit is wasted. "We want to check this wastage and use it in a profitable manner. It will generate employment and also encourage other villagers to join this initiative," a senior WBKVIB official said. The project cost has been estimated at around 5 crore. The second project will take off from the beginning of the next financial year where date palm will be used for producing bio-degradable masks and variety of home furnishing items. In eight blocks in Ranibandh, around 1,200 people are involved in making Gur from the juice of palm.

"We have decided to provide them skill development training and for this purpose we have already done a primary survey at the block level. We will soon be preparing a list of people to be taken up in the training programme. A common production unit along with a raw material bank will be set up," the official added. The project will entail an investment of around Rs 1 crore.

The third project will entail an investment of Rs 60 lakh where people involved in producing Dheki Processed Rice will be provided with modern machines to enhance production.

It may be informed that some 200 people in Chatna produce this variety of rice which is very high in terms of nutrient value and quality. "The use of machines will augment the production and we will also help them in marketing this rice," the official added.

The machine for this has been manufactured by IIT Kharagpur and experts from Bankura Sammilani College have moulded it to make it fit for use in this context.