Recently MCDF (Mukti Community Development Fund) organized dry artificial flower making training program for women empowerment groups (SHGs) aimed at developing entrepreneurship. 20 SHG (Self-Help Group) members had been selected by field coordinator Mr. Kalipada Jatua. The women received training under the primary supervision of Mr. Kalipada Jatua and Mr. Ashim Das. This training was given by the trainer Mr. Tapan Pal. The training was attended by 20 village women from Raidighi block. The 10 day long training took place between 8th March to 20th March at Munda para community Hall, Munda para, Mayra mahal, Raidighi.
The SHG members have got an opportunity to learn 20 different items. Trainer Mr. Pal mentioned that regular practice can provide them better skill and to accomplish the job successfully, they need to emphasize specially on the finishing work. 5-6 SHG members have shown willingness to engage themselves in this dry artificial flower making work against the current market charges. The trainer has discussed with these SHG members and has come to a verbal agreement. Trainees are passionate about the training and confident about their success in near future.
As per Mukti’s president Mr. Sankar Halder’s advice Mr. Kalipada Jatua gave a stall in Sunderban Development Fair 2016 with three different products of the SHGs. The three selected products were soft toys, incense sticks and artificial dry flowers. Mukti received a positive response from the buyers at the fair, though at this point the market attempt is ad-hoc. We have a plan to build up market network to create more opportunities for the SHG trainees. However, Mukti is aware that the skills should be developed at par with the market benchmark for better return.
We have another exciting news from last year’s incense making training program; in facilitation from Mukti’s treasurer and MCDF Programme Director Mr. Anindya Sen, Mahua Agro & Research Institute Pvt. Ltd. has shown interest for marketing incense sticks and they are expecting a continuous supply for this purpose. At present additional 250 cartons are being delivered to the client for marketing.
We are optimistic about newer training programs that will create more women entrepreneurs, leading to women empowerment.