Women's resourcefulness for cottage industry

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Economic Development Ministry under the Divi Neguma programme is planning to utilise the skills and resourcefulness of women to uplift and develop Sri Lanka's cottage industry, Economic Development Ministry Additional Secretary R R A K Ranawaka said.

The ministry is planning to develop 54 cottage industries under this programme, he said.Production of candles, joss-sticks, plastic and metal equipment, bee boxes, cement blocks, poultry cages, equipment for nursery schools, virgin coconut oil, organic menu baskets, water tanks, toys and handloom textile are some of cottage industries, that are to be introduced under this programme, Ranawaka said.

The ministry plans to use raw material obtained from one's own home garden for this task.

Under this programme, the ministry has targeted to bring in women who are without any occupation, into the cottage industry to earn an additional income for their families, he said.

The Additional Secretary said that the rural community will be mobilised under the 'One Project for One Village' programme.

The ministry has targeted to complete this programme on June 30. Thereafter, it will draw plans to collect details for next year's Divi Neguma.

The ministry expects information and proposals from the community as additional inputs to this programme, he said.