Vocational training given

[sajiv]

Vocational training given

TIRUCHI: The Department for Rehabilitation of the Disabled has taken up an innovative initiative for imparting vocational training to the mentally-retarded children of special schools in the district.

Cashing in on the large volume of availability of banana-fibre in the district, the department has taken up a proposal for making value-added banana-fibre products, which has a huge demand in foreign countries.

The first batch of ten students from 'Vidivelli' in the city, one of the 14 special schools for mentally retarded children, underwent training on fabricating the banana fibre here recently.

A simple machine was roped into service and the fabrication technique was explained to them.

"A uniform and repeated operation of a device or equipment attracts the attention of the mentally-retarded persons. As the fabrication technique involves a continuous manual rotation of a wheel, on the lines of the coir rope making units, the inmates of 'Vidivelli' vied with one another in operating it," says the District Disabled Rehabilitation Officer, R. Shyamala.

In course of time, the inmates would be trained in making banana-fibre basket and carry-bags.

A private entrepreneur dealing with value-added products made of banana-fibre, Andal, said that she would supply raw materials to the special schools and also get the finished goods.

The second phase of training would be imparted shortly.

The Principal, Sr. Bridgit Amutha, said that the inmates of 'Vidivelli' were quite responsive to any rehabilitation training programme given.

The District Collector, T. Soundiah, who inaugurated the training, highlighted various welfare measures and insurance schemes being implemented by the Central and State governments in the cause of the mentally-retarded persons.

The Project Director of TIDITTSIA-STED, R. Ramasamy Desai, was among those who were present.