State provides training to youths on spinning & weaving jute

Kolkata: In a unique move, the State Labour department has started providing training to unemployed youths on spinning and weaving jute.

One of the main purposes of the initiative is to make these youths employable so that they can be absorbed in the jute industry. The initiative has been taken up by the department in 2018-19 financial year. There has been a demand of skilled manpower in various jute industries across the state. The directorate of employment has begun a three-months course on spinning and weaving of jute to meet the demand of skilled workers.

The training programmes are being conducted through various employment exchanges in the districts. The candidates have to enroll themselves for undertaking the training programme.

Theoretical classes will be held at different employment exchanges for one month following which the candidates have to visit various jute mills where practical training would be imparted to the trainees for two months. The Directorate of Employment has already started trainings at 10 different centres in Bankura, Howrah, Dum Dum, Barrackpore, Chinsurah, Jhargram, Purulia, Kalna, Bolpur and Sreerampur.

Two sub-centres have also come up in Basirhat and Uluberia to conduct the training programme.

The trainees will have to pay Rs 100 per day for theoretical training of one month and Rs 180 per day for the first 45 days of practical training in jute mills and Rs 250 per day for the last 15 days. The trainees will be provided free accommodation and food during their stay at the jute mills.

After conducting a survey, the state Labour department has found that there is a huge pool of talented individuals who could be provided employments in various jute mills through a comprehensive training programme.

Senior officials of the department are hopeful that a large number of youths from different districts will come forward to undertake the job oriented training. There has been tremendous response in various centres already with people enrolling themselves for the training. It may also be mentioned here that the department has also started 'Career Talks' in various schools and colleges with an aim to reach out to the students and guiding those who are in the threshold of entering job market. Motivation, counseling, guidance for career building are being given to the job seekers through 'Career Talks', workshops and many other programmes.

Workshops are meant for creating awareness about employment trends in the job market. In the past financial year, around 494 'Career Talks' have been organised at different institutions and as many as 37,683 candidates took part in the programme. The department has spent Rs 10.9 lakh for organising such programmes in the financial year 2018-19.