DOWNTOWNPLUS: MCGM’s handicraft centre to develop employment opportunities: January 08, 2009

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai’s (MCGM) most-awaited project ‘Aadhar Kendra’ is about to open its first centre in Andheri. The opening of the first sales and service centre will display handicrafts from across the country. “This is for the first time that the MCGM will be opening a sales and service centre and at the same time will provide a common platform for trained people. The centre is likely to be open to public on Republic Day,” says V Radha, joint commissioner (Estates).

Apart from these, the new project of Aadhar Kendra will also create employment opportunities and has appointed the research and development cell that will study the market scenario and will create employment opportunities for many.

“At present, this programme falls under the Survana Jayanti Sehri Yojna Programme. They are in dire need of security, women taxi drivers and that of facility managers or that of house help. The employment opportunities will be created as per the market demands,” explains Radha. These three professions were shortlisted and were found to be in demand despite the recession. “After the terror attacks, the need for security has increased. In our city, women work late into the night and for safety reasons they want women drivers. Keeping these three categories in mind, we will provide them training opportunities. The project is handled in cooperation with Dr Reddy’s Medical Foundation,” she says and adds that fo the first time the corporation will also teach these trained professionals in life skills.

The training is not free of cost and has an intensive screening procedure followed by a couple of rounds of personal interviews. “We are going to charge them a minimum of Rs 5000 and this scheme will also take care of placements once the training is over,” says Radha. Only handicrafts will be displayed. No food products with the exception of dry products like food grains and spices will be on sale too. “The aim is to bring about their creativity to fore and give them a commercial break at the city level and then later at the international level,” she adds.

These Aadhar Kendras will provide services like carpentry, plumbing, repairing household appliances, tailoring and beauty treatments. “This initiative would bridge the gap between the unemployed skilled labourers and the prospective customers,” she adds. One look at the centre and it takes you back in time of folklore traditions. “ The kendra dons the look of a village hut and is decorated with Warli painting. The handicrafts are available at minimum rates and the varieties are amazing. The idea is to give these artisans commercial opportunities, since the city is the business capital of the country,” says Radha.

The BMC will be providing the area, infrastructure and machinery for these kendras which will be run by the community development societies that work for the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in each ward. “ There are 16 such societies in the city registered with the charity commissioner who works for 27,966 BPL families. The civic body will not have any share in the profits made by these kendras, however, 10 per cent of the revenue earned will be given to these societies,” she concludes.

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