Kosal Discussion and Development Forum

IGNOU’s free courses for weavers of Sonepur and Bargarh districts

November 7, 2016 at 8:27 am sanjibkarmee Leave a comment

BHUBANESWARr: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) has decided to offer four of its certificate courses, including computer literacy programme, for free to family members of weavers of two western Odisha villages.

“It will help the weavers develop their skills under the government’s Unnat Bharat Abhiyan,” Ignou Bhubaneswar regional director Dr Abhilash Nayak said following the institution’s East Zone Directors’ Meet, which concluded here on Saturday.

He said the university has already selected two weaver villages – Kantapalli from Sonepur district and Sagarpalli from Bargarh district – and they would be trained regarding the best practices used in their field.

“The courses will also help them opt for the latest practices for enhancement of skills in weaving and designing clothes and dresses,” the regional director added.

“We will also connect the weavers with the government offices through information and communication technology (ICT). They will get an idea about the use of new technology for their betterment through our training,” Nayak explained.

He said his university has decided to provide four certificate courses to members of weavers family. The courses are – computer literacy programme (CLP), bachelor preparatory programme (BPP), NGO management and certificate course on entrepreneurship (CCE). BPP is a unique programme through which a school or college dropout can get a chance to directly enroll in a bachelors degree. The person will have to sit for an entrance test and upon clearing it can join the bachelors programme.

“Those who are interested in availing the benefits will have to enroll their names at their nearest Ignou study centre in both the districts. The certificate courses will be completed within six months,” said Nayak.

The university has also announced fee exemption for scheduled castes and scheduled tribe candidates in undergraduate programmes. “It will also translate subject matters from English to Odia for better understanding of students. These initiatives will also help the family members of weavers,” an Ignou source said. Regional directors of 12 Ignou regional centres functioning in Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand attended the two-day directors’ meet.

Entry filed under: Arts and Crafts, Bargarh, Bomakai of Sonepur, Region watch, Subarnapur.