798 bidi workers from 8 districts of state identified for skill devpt

Jaipur: In all, 798 bidi workers from eight districts of Rajasthan were identified as a part of Centre’s special project for providing training programmes for securing better livelihoods, a ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship data stated.
According to the data, 150 bidi workers have been identified in Kota district, 100 in Baran, 60 in Tonk, 297 in Ajmer, 54 in Bundi, 57 in Churu, 50 in Sawai Madhopur and 30 in Karauli. Minister of state in the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar informed this in Lok Sabha while replying to an unstarred question on July 18.
“Ministry of labour and employment in collaboration with the ministry of skill development initiated a special project for providing training programmes to the bidi workers and their dependents, for securing better lives with alternative livelihood,” said the reply given by Chandrasekhar.
“The project involves payment of stipend which is one’s day minimum wage for a day, and reimbursement of actual travel expenses incurred during travelling between trainee residences and training centre, for loss of earning to the beedi workers while he/she attends skill training,” it added.
Various courses in which skill development training has been imparted include account using tally, CNC operator, hotel Management (front office associate), sewing machine operator, food and beverages service, A/C and fridge mechanic, customer care executive, solar PV installation, tailoring, solar panel installation, assistant electrician and assistant beauty therapist.
Other courses include basic computer course, general duty assistant, field technician, automobile repair, plumbing, beautician, mushroom cultivation, banking and accountancy, medical and nursing course, hand embroidery, jam and jelly making, computer hardware, stitching, fashion designing and making soft toys and pickle.