Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 7
The masonry training programme under the Re-skilling and Skill Upgradation scheme of the Nagaland state government is receiving unprecedented response with as many as 300 trainees having enrolled so far.
The programme has set a target of training at least 550 people by covering all the 11 districts with Zynorique as the training partner and YouthNet taking charge of publicity. The Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship department is the nodal government agency.
It has so far covered 6 districts with the 7th currently underway in Dimapur at the Women ITI, Seithiekima ‘C’ village. According to the Zynorique training team, 51 men were selected from Dimapur district for the one-week ‘Assistant Mason Training’ programme, which will conclude on July 8. The Zynorique team said that the training curriculum is as per the standard laid down by the Construction Skill Development Council of India, which is under the aegis of the National Skill Development Corporation.
While 50 was set as the maximum number of trainee intake per district, team Zynorique said that the overwhelming response from applicants for the training has had the team training more than the stipulated number of trainees. A total of 14 women, 4 in Mokokchung and 10 in Longleng, have so far participated. In Mokokchung, the team received requests for conducting the training again.
The training is scheduled for Mon district from July 17-22, Zunheboto – July 31-August 5, Longleng – August 21-August 26 and in Kohima – September 4-9.
The Dimapur leg of the training had a few trainees with engineering diplomas, school and college dropouts and some already working in the construction sector.
Atoho Shohe (35 years) of Thahekhu village, who said, he hardly attended school, applied for the programme after he was advised to give a shot at the training. Working in the construction sector for 15 years now, Shohe said that he started out as an apprentice learning the tricks of the trade under non-Naga construction workers. Describing the training as a defining learning curve for him, he said, “What I have learned here is very different to what I have been doing.”
Another trainee, Paul Shikhu (32) said that he enrolled to further his dream of real estate development. While the professional construction techniques imparted have been one, he added that the focus on personal safety and the specified material and construction standard to build safer structures was enlightening.
Kidongmeren Longkumer (22 years), a college dropout, said that he joined the construction sector as soon as he left college. His interest was architecture but he could not muster the required marks to pursue his dream. Still, he said that he has somehow realised that dream albeit without a formal degree. According to him, he helps out his uncle, an architect, as an on-site assistant and it on his uncle’s advice that he joined the training programme. While stating the one-week training has been an eye-opening experience, he added, “I’d wish the training continues for some more weeks.”
Shikhu echoed a similar view by stating that while the training has been educative, he would certainly want to have more of such training sessions.
