Kerala handicrafts agency to train school students

As part of skill development of school students, the Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala Ltd is getting ready to provide expert training for pupils in craft-making free of cost.
The ambitious training programme, planned to be implemented with the support of the union government, is aimed at inculcating interest for craft making among youth and pass on the state's centuries' old legacy of handicraft making to the next generation, Corporation sources said.
A top Corporation official said the programme would be implemented in two or three districts in the initial phase and would be expanded to other districts after evaluating its success.

"We are planning to select two or three districts in the initial stage. One school will be identified in each district and interested students there will be given training. The training will be imparted by our expert artisans and craftsmen," M C Kamaruddin, Chairman, HDCKL, told PTI.
The training would be free of cost and students would be selected based on their interest in handicraft making, he said.
"We are yet to finalise the districts for the programme. Thiruvananthapuram, Kasaragod and Malappuram are under consideration in the intitial stage. Schools will be identified based on certain criteria," he said.
He said the Corporation also planned to sell through its outlets handicraft products made by students, during the annual school work experience fairs in the state.

The initiative would help students find a market for their products and woo more youngsters to the field of craft making the official added.