Rajouri, March 24: A series of training sessions on the preparation of handicraft using Chir Needles were today started at different locations in Sunderbani Forest Range, here under the Mission Youth.
The trainees, majority of them women, will be trained to make handicraft items using the fallen Chir Needles.
The fallen Chir Needles on forest floor is the main cause of Forest Fire during the summer months. Nowshera Forest Division, under the guidance of Divisional Forest Officer Neelima Shah, has initiated the process of making handicraft items using Chir Pine Neeldes.
Till date 500 women from different parts are trained in making a number of items like Roti Box, Pooja Tokri, Serving Tray, Table Mat etc.
A five day training programme on handicraft was started at village Dharamsaal where 35 women from the village are participating.
Another training progamme has been started at village Channi at which 40 women of the village are participating, while a group of 28 women are being trained at village Kadma.
Speaking on the occasion, Divisional Forest Officer Nowshera Neelima Shah said that the Forest Department is exploring livelihood generation opportunities for the villagers, especially women. “We have constituted 10 Self Help Groups at village Brevi, Salheri, Kotkabbu and Hathal and all these SHGs are self sustaining and are now selling their products in market” she added.
Rakesh Verma Range Officer Sunderbani said that training progamme will last for five days. “A Self Help Group will be constituted at each location before the conclusion of training programme so that the trained women work in an organized manner” he informed.
The training programmes were organized by Ved Parkash, Block Forest officer Dharamsaal and Rangeel Singh, Block Forest Officer Sunderbani and conducted under the direct supervision of Vivek Verma- Conservator of Forests West Circle Rajouri and Divisional Forest Officer Nowshera.
