The Welfare of Differently Abled Persons department under the Tamil Nadu RIGHTS project has established a design studio at the Government Institute for Intellectual Disability (GIID), Tambaram. The initiative is aimed at offering training to intellectually disabled persons in leather goods production in order to make them independent.
The pilot project, which began in January was officially launched last week. Under this, steps would be taken to train intellectually disabled students and convert them into a self-help group (SHG). Under the World Bank project’s skilling component, students, along with their parents or guardians, will receive training in stitching and design.
“This initiative will train their parents or guardians too as they require support to learn. Once the course is finished, they can get together to form a self-help group to manufacture leather products,” an official from the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons department said.
Established in partnership with the Leather Sector Skill Council (LSSC) at a cost of ₹10.5 lakh, the students will be taught to make keychains, wallets, bags, pouches among other items. “Two teachers will train them in a six-month course and continuous monitoring will be carried out to make it into a sustainable model,” the official added. Presently, 30 students are taking up the course at GIID.
Once the students complete the course, the Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihoods Mission (TNULM) will aid in arranging loans, entrepreneurship training and setting up a self-help group.
“Further, this initiative would develop into a model for self-employment by developing a curriculum and promoting independence,” the official said.
Meanwhile, under the project, the department has initiated a wage employment programme for persons with disability (PwD). “Over 20 PwD have been trained as stitching operators in a six-month course to work in various companies. This pilot project has already completed training the first batch,” the official added.
Published - April 13, 2025 08:55 pm IST
