KVIC's skill development programme to help drought-hit farmers

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has pitched in to help drought-hit farmers by providing them alternative source of income through a skill development programme.
The programme, which would enable the farmers to start micro small units locally based on local resources, would start from drought-hit areas of Maharashtra which will be conducted by experienced and well-qualified technical faculty of KVIC.
In a statement, KVIC said the main objective of the initiative, taken up by its Chairman V K Saxena, is "to equip farmers to take recourse to alternative sources of income and reduce their dependency on agriculture activities, considering natural calamities, imbalances and drought situation".

Training will be carried out at KVIC's departmental training centres at Nasik and Dahanu from April 15 and will be linked up for special training package to farmers and their family members, the commission said, adding the farmers will have the liberty to select from a menu of training programmes.
"Experienced and well-qualified technical faculty of KVIC will conduct the programme. There will be lodging and boarding facilities for the farmers," Saxena said, adding a nominal fee of Rs 10 will be charged from them but would be returned to them on successful completion of the training programme.
The programmes will run for 15-30 days, during which psychiatrists and counselors will hold motivation and counselling sessions to help depressed farmers recover.

"Bankers will participate on the last day of the training programme and with assistance of state directors concerned, financial support from MUDRA Bank and PMEGP Scheme of KVIC will be worked out for each farmer," the release said.
Training will be provided on food and vegetable processing, bakery training, spices processing, incense sticks making, candle making, edible oil extraction, paper conversion courses, wielding, carpentry and black smithy training, palm leaf cup/plate making, fibre article making and lac production and value added products.
The training assumes importance as the Centre is facing flak for its initiative in dealing with the issue of drought under the MGNREGA scheme.