SISI provides skills and careers
Training in progress at the mechanical engineering section of the Small Industries Service Institute in Bangalore. Photo: K. Gopinathan.
THE SMALL Industries Service Institute (SISI), Bangalore, is a beacon of hope for educated, unemployed youth and small-scale industries in the State. It promotes entrepreneurship among the youth and upgradation of technical know-how of small units.
The SISI, set up by the Union Ministry of Small-Scale Industries in 1954, has been doing pioneering work in the areas of skill development and industrial extension services in the State. The SISI, which is celebrating its golden jubilee this year, has been training prospective entrepreneurs in how to start small-scale units, design new products, maintain quality of products, and face competition in the market.
The SISI offers a variety of skill development courses and 37 unemployed graduates set up their own units in various parts of the State during 2003-04.
The Director of the SISI, Bangalore, S.S. Dhillon, says " in order to generate rural employment, the emphasis is placed on conducting skill development training programmes as part of entrepreneurial development in all districts, which includes management of development programmes." The programmes are conducted in association with the State Directorate of Industries, industry associations and other institutes.
The programmes are held throughout the year for individuals and in batches. The SISI, Bangalore, covers 15 districts: Bangalore Rural, Bangalore Urban, Chamarajnagar, Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Davanagere, Hassan, Kodagu, Kolar, Mandya, Mysore, Shimoga, Tumkur and Udupi.
The SISI of Hubli covers 12 districts of north Karnataka.
The SISI conducts skill development courses in all district industrial centres in many fields including manufacture of glass and ceramics, chemical products, and running mechanical workshops. "The educated youth in rural parts are showing more interest in seeking the guidance of the SISI in starting units," the Director says.
Glass and Ceramics
The glass and ceramics laboratory of the institute gives training and demonstration in the fields of screen printing, silvering of glass, glass etching, transfer techniques, glare-free mirrors, chalk crayons, dustless chalk, scientific glassware and ophthalmic lens grinding. The fee for the three-month course in Ophthalmic Lens Grinding and Polishing is Rs. 2,500. The fee for the one-month training in decoration of glass and ceramics is Rs. 1,000. Minimum eligibility is SSLC for both the courses. Training is provided in batches.
A view of the Small Industries Service Institute building.
The programmes are useful for those who want to start their units with a small investment (about Rs. 2,500) immediately after the training. The entrepreneurs get assistance under the Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana and also get loans from banks.
Glass and ceramic goods are required in all works (construction, housing, electronics, motor and glass industries and printing) and there is huge demand for it, says H. Baldev Singh, Assistant Director of the SISI.
The entrepreneurs who are not in a position to purchase equipment related to scientific glassware, ophthalmic lens grinding and high temperature muffle furnace could use the facility at the SISI. The laboratory has equipment for testing clay and brick samples.
Building Materials
To provide information on various building materials, technologies available and help business opportunity identification, a programme on building material industries is offered. The programme includes lectures and demonstrations for planning, organising and launching small-scale building material units (building bricks, cement concrete hollow blocks, paints, steel fabrication, aluminium profiles, mosaic tiles, PVC electric wires).
The duration of the course is one month and SSLC passed candidates aged between 18-35 years are eligible to register. The fee is Rs. 1,000. There is a huge demand for the course on account of increasing construction activities in cities. Even students from other States attend the course, says R. Sampath Kumar, Deputy Director, SISI.
Chemical Laboratory
The chemical laboratory has facilities to test oils, fats, washing soaps and toilet soaps and hold product demonstration on detergents, cosmetics, wax candles and screen-printing. One-week training is given in production of consumer chemicals and food processing. Both literate and semi-literate persons are eligible for the course. Apart from the fee of Rs. 1,000, the candidates have to bear the cost of raw materials.
One-day and two-day demonstrations/training on consumer chemical products are held and the fee is Rs. 250 for one-day training and Rs. 500 for two days.
The one-day courses cover agarbathi rolling and perfuming and making cleaning powder, liquid detergent, white and black phenyl, liquid blue, nail polish, synthetic gum, wax candles, dhoop sticks and thinner.
Two-day course items are tooth powder, detergent cake, perfumery compounds, petroleum jelly, wood polish and starch-based adhesives.
Candidates are also offered a five-day course in developing products such as acid slurry, oil bound distemper, PVC cement, shoe polish, glass cleaner, metal paste, redoxide primer and room freshner (liquid) and laminating photographs. The fee is Rs. 1,000.
Candidates have to register their names and addresses one week in advance for these courses.
"The SISI offers good training in all chemical products and I have set up Sri Venkateshwara Chemical Industry at Koppa Hobli in Maddur taluk of Mandya," says K. Jayagopal. The factory has recently received orders worth Rs. 2 crores and provided employment to 30 persons.
Mechanical Workshop
Three courses are available in the mechanical workshop: Autocad 2004; CNC Operation and Programming on Lathe and Machining Centre; and Mechanist.
The first two are for four weeks and graduates and diploma holders are eligible. The fee is Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 2,500 respectively.
The Mechanist course is for six months and those who have passed Standard VII are eligible. The fee is Rs. 1,500.
Campaigns
To motivate the younger generation to take up self-employment ventures, the SISI holds motivation campaigns at reputed engineering colleges, polytechnics and management institutes. The target group for this programme is the final year students in different disciplines. Agencies who are engaged in the promotion and development of small industries are invited to explain their activities. About 500 persons benefited from this programme during the last financial year.
The institute conducts week-long programmes for retired employees and those who had opted for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). Last year, about 300 VRS staff underwent training in skills development.
SSIs
The Field Testing Station provides testing facility of appliances such as electric irons, water heaters, stoves, mixers, hot plates, table lamps, overhead conductors, auto cables, lamps and accessories that are manufactured by the SSIs and medium-scale industries.
The centre is also providing consultancy service to the industries to improve the quality of the products and setting up of their own testing lab. Full testing charges are to be paid at the time of submission of samples. Charges depend on the item and duration required for testing, according to P. Nanu, Assistant Director of the Field Testing Station.
Taking into account the demand and problems of the SSIs, the SISI conducts management development programmes of 10-day duration in different parts of the State on topics such as export management, financial management and cost accounting and small entrepreneurs management.
It also undertake projects and conducts exhibitions and awareness programmes on ISO 9000 and surveys to assess the availability of skill and infrastructure for industrial development.
The SISI also organises programmes to promote marketing of SSI products. The Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project staff was trained by the chemical division staff of the SISI for manufacturing of consumer chemicals.
For programme details, contact the Assistant Director, Industrial Management and Training, SISI, Industrial Estate, Rajajinagar, Bangalore - 560 044. Ph: 23351581, 23351582. E-mail: sisibng@vsnl.com. Website: www.sisikarnataka.org
NAGESH PRABHU
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