Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 01 2024: A 30-day training programme on "Bamboo and Cane Processing " has been inaugurated at the Manipur University Department of Forestry on Tuesday with the stated objective to promote sustainable livelihoods in the conflict-affected areas of the state.
The training programme being conducted by the North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) in collaboration with Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS) is sponsored by the North Eastern Council (NEC), DoNER.
In a statement, AIMS informed that the inaugural ceremony was attended by MU School of Agricultural Science dean Prof Gopal Kumar Niroula Chhetry and Dr Paonam Priyobrata of AIMS as chief guest and president respectively while CS1R-NEIST, Imphal chief scientist Dr Huidrom Birkumar; Thoudam Dorendra, an agricultur ist from Mantripukhri; and NECBDC Guwahati, manager of training H Priyokumar were the guests of honour.
AIMS director Dr Atom Sunil emphasised the importance of developing skills in bamboo and cane processing to help restore livelihoods of internally displaced people along with highlighting potential of the training to offer sustainable income opportunities, to aid the affected individuals rebuild their lives.
Addressing the trainees, Prof Gopal Niroula underscored cultural and economic significance of bamboo and cane in the region, and potential for creative livelihoods through skill development in this sector as AIMS president Mayanglambam Khelen-dro highlighted the need to tap the local resources and traditional knowledge for new income-generation opportunities and MU Forestry Department head Dr Vivek K Vaishnav affirmed the university's commitment to supporting such initiatives through skill enhancement and resource utilisation.
Speakers also encouraged the participants, numbering around 50, to fully engage in the training as it is aims to empower them with skills that could revive the local economy and promote community resilience.
According to the statement, AIMS director N Ratan Meetei noted that the collaboration between NECBDC and AIMS represents a significant step toward empowering local communities and sustainably utilising the state's natural resource