Self-Help Group members trained in basket-making

A one-day basket-making training programme was conducted for 63 Self-Help Group (SHG) members from Chukitong, Wokha and Wozhuro blocks on March 2 at Likya Community Hall, Wokha. The training was organised by the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Kohima, in collaboration with the NSRLM department.
Senior lecturer, SIRD, Dr. Rokosuno, led the theoretical session, while practical training was imparted by Neizelieü and Vilazonuo. During the hands-on session, participants learned to weave durable utility baskets using flat plastic strips, suitable for carrying vegetables, groceries and other household items.
Highlighting the importance of skill-based activities, Dr. Rokosuno noted that while many SHGs are engaged in kitchen gardening and cultivation of vegetables, these are seasonal and perishable. Basket-making, he said, provides an additional and reliable income avenue, as baskets are non-perishable products that can be stored, transported and sold throughout the year, ensuring a more stable livelihood.
Participants expressed gratitude to NSRLM and SIRD for the initiative. Though the training lasted only a day, they said it equipped them with basic weaving techniques and motivated them to develop advanced designs and expand their small-scale enterprises. They also appealed for more such skill-based training programmes to strengthen rural entrepreneurship among women SHGs.