Port Blair, Nov 24: The valedictory function of Food Processing training organized by Unnati with the support of NABARD at Chouldhari concluded on 22-11-2022. On this occasion Mrs. Pramila Kumari Adhyaksha Zilla Parishad was the Chief Guest and Mr. H. Manoj General Manager NABARD was the Guest of Honour.
Mrs.TapasiSaha Pradhan Chouldari Gram Panchayat while welcoming thanked NABARD and Unnati for imparting Food Processing training as excellently as she observed during her visits a number of times while training was on. She also said that the feedback received from the trainees about the quality of training was also commendable. She mentioned that the trainees are full of confidence and prepared to take part in a food exhibition/ Mela going to be organized by NABARD in December 2022. She assured her full support to the trainees for displaying their products after arranging them a stall by Panchayat.
During the interaction session, Mr. H. Manoj General Manager NABARD, Guest of Honor explained in detail about NABARD schemes including marketing support, various training programmes, assistance for formation SHGs etc. He also interacted with each trainee and all of them spoke very highly about the quality training being impacted by Unnati with the support of NABARD. They also expressed difficulties in obtaining food licenses due to delay in getting various clearance certificates from different Departments.
Mrs.Chaitali Roy Samiti Member said the efforts of NABARD and Unnati for promotion of self-employment in rural areas through various capacity building and skill up-gradation training programs benefiting a lot particularly women groups with active involvement of PRIs.
Mr. C. Mohammed, President Unnati mentioned that through the Food Processing programme particularly marine and Coconut based value added products, there is good scope in A & N Islands as recommended by the Experts Committee constituted in the year 2006 by Govt. of India. As a follow-up action, the Administration associated Unnati with promoting food Processing. On the suggestions of Unnati, the Administration took various decisions for popularizing Food Processing which is to be implemented by the Industry Department in coordination with concerned Departments. He further mentioned that to resolve the problem in obtaining food license, a special session was arranged in the training programme for the benefits of the trainees and officials of Industry Department and Pollution Control Committee were invited to highlight their respective sides to the trainees. From the lectures of the officials, it revealed that various clearances are mandatory for obtaining a food license to start food processing activities. The Industry Department may assist the trainees in obtaining various clearances from different Departments through the Single Window System established by the Industry Department during the year 2000 for the purpose. Industry Department may also consider to establish a common production center Departmentally or Panchayat with all Food Processing machines to use the same by trainees for production of items on nominal rent as was being done by Unnati till they have their own units in the Industrial Estate or on the land owned by them as most candidates after undergoing training are not in a position to establish units due to poor financial condition to procure Food Processing machines and equipment and difficulty in obtaining license etc. Use of Food Processing machines are not being demonstrated because of closure of Unnati’s training center due to litigation with the Industry department.
Mrs. Pramila Kumari Adhyaksha Zilla Parishad Chief Guest expressed her pleasure for the quality of training being impacted by Unnati with the support of NABARD and also appreciated trainees for their keen interest and active participation in learning process of preparing value added products and advised them to start and continue practices in production activities without wasting time so that they could improve the quality of their products. She also complimented the trainer of Unnati for imparting training so well. She appreciated NABARD and Unnati for conducting such a useful training programme involving PRIs. She expressed her confidence that the trainees would take up food processing as a self employment venture if required support extended to them. She assured the various problems raised by the trainees with regard to various clearances for obtaining food license, marketing support including restart of sale-counter at Goalghar by the Directorate of Social Welfare and creation of common production center fulfilling all requirement of Food Safety Department would be taken up with concerned Departments. She also mentioned due to budgetary constraints, NABARD is not in a position to meet the training requirement of all Panchayats and added that she would explore the possibilities of meeting the training requirements after discussing with concerned Departments involving PRIs and also request Administration to arrange training on coconut based products with the support of Coconut Development Board, Kochin.
Certificates were distributed to trainees by Adhyaksha Zilla Parishad, General Manager NABARD and PRI Members. A vote of thanks was given by one of the best performing traineesMrs.Saloka Mallick whose contribution was commendable in organizing the training programme so successfully.