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Now, they weave a career for themselves

— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

Acquiring a skill: Special children of Satya Special School learning to weave coir mats.

PUDUCHERRY: Setting a platform for special children to learn vocational skills, Satya Special School with the help of Coir Board has launched a training programme on coir mat weaving from June.

The initiative comes as a means to enhance the employability skills of special children.

After training, they would be able to produce the mats and generate income for their families, Technical Advisor of Satya Special School Chitra Shah said.

“The Government of India has reserved three per cent of vacancies for persons with disabilities in government establishments. The visually challenged, hearing impaired and physically challenged receive one per cent reservation each. This has left out the mentally challenged persons,” she said.

The programme in coir mat weaving consists of two-month intensive training and two-months of on-the-job training. Already, the first batch of 10 students are undergoing training in coir mat weaving since June.

“The Coir Board has sent a trainer for the programme. They are providing a stipend of Rs. 500 a month for the first two months for each child and certificates will be given on completion of training. The first batch of students will complete the training in September and the training for the second batch will begin this month,” she said.

The Coir Board had made the school a training centre for special children, Ms. Shah said, adding that the training would be open for special children in the age group of 18 to 25 in Puducherry. However, registration would be on first cum first served basis.

For K. Dhanam, the trainer from Coir Board, the experience of training special children has come as a unique and special one.

“The children are trained in making coir door mats, bedroom mats, telephone mats and for teapoys. They initially learn rope joints, putting the ropes on the frames and then using the needle to weave the mats. The children are doing very well,” she said. “As we train the children, we are hoping that they will find a job and take up coir mat weaving to supplement their income,” Ms.Shah said.

The school, which has a total of 82 students, plans to start t

raining in carpentry soon. The special children would be given capsule training in a particular job. “We are also starting hydro therapy, which would help the children in walking and overall development, next week,” she said.

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