Date:16/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/16/stories/2008031655070700.htm

Andhra Pradesh

chamber’s initiatives will benefit rural women: Indira Dutt

Staff Reporter

Training being given to women in IT, other emerging technologies

Certificates given away to women who underwent 45-day training
Three such programmes organised in the State till now

PHOTO: CH. VIJAYA BHASKAR

Empowerment: Women, who have undergone training in IT programme organised by the SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneur Council, at the valedictory programme in Vijayawada on Saturday. —

VIJAYAWADA: V.L. Indira Dutt, Chairperson of the SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneurs Council (SCWEC), on Saturday said efforts were on to empower rural women in the seven SAARC Countries by providing them necessary training in information technology and other emerging technologies. She called upon women to make use of available resources and opportunities to earn and stand on their own. Ms. Dutt was addressing a meeting organised to hand over certificates to rural women who received a 45-day training programme in information technology conducted by the SCWEC, whose main purpose is to bring together women entrepreneurs of the region and engage them in consultation for mutual growth. In view of the need for capacity building of women entrepreneurs of the region, the SCWEC concentrated on empowerment of all sections of women.

Main objective

The IT training programme’s main aim was to impart skills to needy women and create opportunities for their economic empowerment and also enable them to get jobs. So far, three such programmes were organised in the State and those who received training got such jobs as back office assistants, drawing salaries of Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 5,000 a month. As a part of the training, the women were exposed to a working knowledge of computers and also given lessons in personality development and health aspects.

Funds for such programmes were gathered from members and philanthropists, and the training programme for women in Krishna district drew support from SCWEC advisory council member and Lanco Hills Director Lagadapati Padma Rajagopal. Ms. Rajagopal, who was present on the occasion, handed over mementoes to the guests.

Laila Group Chairman Gokaraju Gangaraju lauded the efforts of SCWEC and pointed out that only when women were in the forefront of any development initiative, there would be real success in society.

Mayor Mallika Begum and Zilla Parishad vice-chairperson Tatineni Padmavathi stressed the need for women to get better opportunities and get economic self-sufficiency.