People from border areas undergo stone cutting training

Dimapur, Nov. 9 (EMN): Altogether 28 villagers from Indo-Myanmar border blocks have completed two months mechanised stone cutting and masonry training and availed multiple blade stone cutting machines under Border Area Development Programme (BADP) capacity building/skill development programme 2016-17.
Department of Underdeveloped Areas (DUDA) has been imparting various training programmes since 2007-08 as part of human resource development (HRD) programme. The training was conducted to enable the people living in the international border area villages for sustainability, livelihood and self-reliance through up-gradation and development of their skills.
Under BADP capacity building programme 2016-17, some of the skill development and human resource development programmes included beauty and well being, building construction (RCC), multi skill development training in welding and providing of machines, Diploma in Computer Application (DCA), mother and child care with ambulance provision, apple farmers exposure tour, OST and drug de-addiction, mechanised stone cutting training and providing of machines, bamboo/wood crafts and tailoring training.
Altogether more than 300 villagers have been benefitted this year alone from all the various programmes of the BADP capacity building and human resource development programmes. The ministry had approved Rs 250 lakh under capacity building/skill development programme 2016-17.
Senti Ao, Secretary of DUDA, graced the valedictory function as the chief guest on November 6 at Kuda Tech Skill Centre, IIDC, Kiruphema, Kohima. In his address, he said the mechanised stone cutting and masonry training was categorically chosen due to the abundant availability of raw materials of both sandstone and decorative and dimensional stone deposits in the Indo-Myanmar border areas.
He stated that in order to inculcate the modern technology skill up-gradation and output efficiency, the two months training was imparted to the 28 local masons (trainees) to boost both production and value added products. The training course too covered machine applications, maintenance and products utility.
He has appreciated the department for selecting one of the best training institutes (Kuda Tech Skill Centre) located at IIDC, Kiruphema, Kohima, in collaboration with NTTC, Dimapur, which designed and manufactured multiple blade stone cutting machine. He has expressed gratitude to both NTTC and Kuda Tech Skill Centre for providing all supports to make the training programme a grand success. He said the training programme was a direct benefit to the villages since the machine was given free of cost to the villagers to make use of it to generate/produce stone value added products either for own construction or commercial purpose.
He also urged upon the trainees to go back to their respective villages and be a torch bearers to teach the youth the skill they have learnt during the training. The programme was chaired by KS Anden Konyak, Director of DUDA, while the invocation prayer was said by Renao Lotha and short speech was delivered by Kevisetuo Rhitso, Principal of Kuda Tech Skill Centre.