GUWAHATI: In a bid to equip indigenous women with vocational skills, a tailoring school was inaugurated at the Manas Conservation and Outreach Centre in Bhuyapara, Baksa recently.
The school seeks to offer alternative livelihood opportunities to the women folk in the fringe villages of the Manas National Park, reducing their dependence on forests and contributing towards conservation efforts.
“Tailoring training empowers fringe women economically, fostering ownership in forest conservation. With skills, these women will become key stakeholders, contributing to sustainable practices and biodiversity conservation. This inclusive approach addresses gender disparities and strengthens community involvement, leading to more effective and enduring forest conservation efforts,” a statement released by Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation organisation, read.
The tailoring school aims to provide basic training in measurement, cutting, and stitching to equip trainees with tailoring skills.
Attended by 23 trainees from Bhuyapara, Bamunkhal, and Kumguri villages surrounding the Manas Tiger Reserve, along with master trainer Pakhila Das, the inauguration ceremony began with Pakhila Das lighting a lamp, followed by an overview of the tailoring school’s objectives.
Trainees then discussed the aspects of tailoring they intended to learn. The programme concluded with the division of trainees into four groups, scheduled to attend classes thrice a week.
The tailoring school is part of the IUCN-KFW supported project titled “Securing Population of Tigers, Habitats, and Biological Corridors in Assam, India,” implemented in the Manas Landscape, Baksa District.
