Vocational training centre opened

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government, in association with the Ministry of Rural Development, has launched a vocational training programme in the Maoist-affected Malkangiri district as part of its objective for inclusive development through poverty reduction.    Under the programme, a Skills for Employment in Apparel Manufacturing (SEAM) Training Centre has been set up to cater to the needs of tribal and rural youth of the remote pockets of the district. The sewing machine operator training centre is equipped with the latest machinery and hostel facility for 64 trainees to be trained and employed in apparel industries. Youth, with a minimum education of Class V, will be selected for training based on their aptitude, finger dexterity and hand-eye coordination tests, Panchayati Raj Department sources said. The training is for 240 hours and includes operation of sewing machines of latest technology used in apparel industry, soft skills, personality development, language training, yoga and career counselling. The residential training is free and provides costs for the successfully trained candidates to travel to the industry where they are going to be employed.   It is the seventh training centre in the State following successful implementation of the programme in Berhampur, Kandhamal, Balangir, Sundargarh and Gajapati where over 7,000 rural and tribal youth from BPL households have undergone training since 2008 by IL&FS. The centre was inaugurated by RDC (South) Laxmi Narayana Nayak on Wednesday in the presence of Collector Balwant Singh.