BAJ funds skills training program

by Ramani Kangaraarachchi

A Rs 50 million worth vocational skills training program has been launched to uplift the livelihood of villagers in the Mannar district by Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ), a Japanese non governmental organisation.

The allocated funds will be utilised within 30 months until June 2007 for following activities.

a. Hold training courses in repair and maintenance of agricultural, fishery machines at the BAJ training centre in Mannar.

b. Establish public rental shops regarding agricultural and fishery machines in the three co operative societies in Musalai Nanadan and Manthai West division.

c. rent out, repair and maintain agricultural fishery machines at the public rental shops.

Information officer Yasufumi Tsukamura said that training courses such as masonry, carpentry, electric wiring, agricultural machine maintenance are on going at the training centre.

More than 200 youth would be able to access skills training courses throughout the project., and contribute to their income generation and their own society. Furthermore, construction of the public rental shop in co operative societies is an unique trial so that, at the completion of the project, they will find effective ways of contributing to their society in line with the machinery rental and service he said.

The project is funded by Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) The first field level project committee chaired by the Government Agent of Mannar district was held last week.

BAJ is to expand its activity to the south (Monaragala) apart from their activities in the North and East