SHILLONG, JULY 9: A first of its kind Orthopaedic Shoemaking Vocational Training Unit was set up in the state’s capital with an aim to improve the livelihood opportunity of unemployed youths especially those with different ability.
The Unit was inaugurated by the Deputy Consul General from the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Kolkata, Jurgen Thomas Schrod at the Roilang Livelihood Academy of the Bethany Society here on Sunday.
Bethany Society –which was established way back in 1981 – has been implementing various institutional and community based programmes which aim to mainstream disability and promote rights of persons with disabilities.
It covers about 600 villages and reaching out to 5,000 persons with disabilities besides managing an ‘inclusive school’ in Shillong and 2 vocational training centres one in Shillong and Tura. Over 800 youths have been trained so far.
The Shoemaking Unit, which is a new programme introduced by the Bethany Society, is being funded by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany with the support of the CBM India Trust based in Bangalore.
“It (Unit) is part of our livelihood programme to develop the capacity of unemployed youths including persons with disabilities which will be trained in making different types of shoes and other leather products,” Bethany Society executive director Carmo Noronha told reporters at the sidelines of the function.
Apart from this, the Unit will design shoes for chidren having some deformities like club feets or leprosy cured people.
“We are also planning to connect with the National Health Mission because it has a cell that looks after this,” he said.
Asked, Noronha informed that the German Consulate has extended financial support of Rs 2.70 lakh for electric shoe sewing machines for the Unit.
The project was approved with the help of CBM India Trust, which has been supporting the Bethany Society since 2006.
Informing that session for the first batch of shoemakers will commence on Monday, Noronha said four trainees – which all are persons with disabilities – have been selected for the 6-8 months training programme.
“It is free of cost for persons with disabilities but for others, we are yet to decide on the fee structure,” he added.
The course offered by the Unit includes instep shoe, derby shoe, oxford shoe, booty shoe, sandal, leprosy sandal and orthopaedic shoe.
The trainees will be trained under Eldalyne Kharsati from Mawlai Umshing. Kharsati had completed her two-year extensive training on shoemaking in Vietnam.
On the other hand, Schrod said that the German Consulate is trying to be more engaged in the North East, which is being perceived as one of the most neglected region.
“We are supporting small communities and skills. Though it is not big money but it is a helping hand to improve the livelihood of many people including persons with disabilities,” he said.
Schrod also informed that the consulate is also supporting five to six projects which spreads all over the 11 states of India.
Apart from this, the German consulate is also supporting an NGO called “Missing” which is working towards eradicating human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a big concern and 50 million people are affected in India alone,” he said adding “This is crimes against humanity and we try to put our hands and contribute towards a change.
He said, “We are trying to engage with the decision-makers at the district as well as the state level.”
Meanwhile, the CBM India Trust is also having big plans for the North East region including Meghalaya under its Country Implementation Plan (CIP).
“We target specific states where we intend to do intensive so the North East gets the best as we see there is more requirements in this part of the country. We want our time and resources to reach the unreached,” CBM official Michael Joseph said.
In respect to Meghalaya, he said in the next three years, they are planning to support Tura and Shillong directly or indirectly.
“There are good amount of plans in the pipeline to support both the places – Tura and Shillong,” he said while informing that a team from the CBM will come and evaluate to see what the need of the hour is, keeping the PwDs in mind.
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