Jowai, June 25: Thirteen visually impaired individuals were felicitated for successfully completing their training in broom-making, as a remarkable achievement. The training was conducted by the Society for Urban and Rural Empowerment (SURE) with support from the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) and the Office of the District Social Welfare Department, aimed to empower differently-abled individuals in West Jaintia Hills District.

The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, including DV Lyngdoh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of West Jaintia Hills, who congratulated the trainees and appreciated the efforts of SURE and the district administration. The trainees, who were trained by a visually impaired master trainer, Kelvin Suting, have already started producing finished brooms and selling them independently.

The event highlighted the potential of differently-abled individuals and the importance of inclusive skill development programs. The trainees expressed their gratitude and shared their experiences, showcasing the impact of the training on their lives. The ceremony also marked the opening of SURE’s new training center in New Hills, Jowai, which will conduct future training programs for differently-abled individuals.

In the past six months, SURE has conducted two training sessions for visually impaired members of the society in West Jaintia Hills District. The training supported by MSSDS was held at Moosakhia, under Amlarem Block, and the training sponsored by the DSWO was held at Lumbhah Dakha Wahiajer, under Thadlaskein Block.

Speaking on the occasion, R. Passah, District Social Welfare Officer of West Jaintia Hills, said she realized the trainees’ potential when she visited the training center sponsored by the DSWO, noting that while their eyes may be blind, their hands can perform wonders. The master trainer who provided the training, Kelvin Suting, is also visually impaired.

Lambor Suchen, District Skill Development Officer, admitted that he was initially apprehensive about the success of the training when he proposed it to Shillong. However, he is now delighted to see the positive outcomes, as the trainees have already started making broomsticks on their own.

S. Pale, IPO from the Office of the District Commerce and Industries Centre, West Jaintia Hills, informed the trainees about the recently launched Prime Minister Vishwakarma Scheme and encouraged them to avail themselves of the support it offers.

Durka Sari, speaking on behalf of the female visually impaired trainees, shared the challenges she faced in accessing even her basic rights as a person with a disability. After the training, she is now independent and has started selling her brooms with the help of friends.

Krishna Phawa, another trainee, highlighted how the training has enabled him to earn his livelihood, as he no longer wants to depend on his family.

In addition to presenting all the trainees with their certificates and startup kits, they were provided with a device called Touch-it, a sensor that serves as additional support to the white cane they use, with the support from the DSWO.

SURE is going to conduct more trainings in the future and on this day D.V. Lyngdoh also declared open SURE’s new training centre at New Hills, Jowai.

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