Candle making training held at Thingling

GANGTOK, 06 July: A week-long decorative candle making training concluded at Thingling, West Sikkim on 03 July. The training, which started on 27 June, was conducted under Capacity Building Programme of Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) I, West District by State Level Nodal Agency, Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department.
A press release informs, the training was conducted by Mary Bhujel and Kanchi Sherpa of Kyongnosla Self Help Group created and groomed under IWMP, Sikkim. During the week-long training twenty six beneficiaries from four women's Self Help Groups were trained in making various types of decorative candles.
This is second time that decorative candle making training has been conducted in West Sikkim by SLNA under IWMP Project. The first training was conducted at Yuksam village under Mansabung Ramgaythang micro watershed from 20 to 26 June 2014 for twenty one beneficiaries. Similar training under IWMP was conducted in the past in Samdong and Kyongnosla in East District and Nandugaon and Damthang in South District, the release mentions.
Training completion certificates and candle making tools kits were distributed to the trainees by PCCF-cum-Member Secretary, SLNA, Dr.Anil Mainra. In his address, Dr Mainra congratulated the participants for successfully completing the training and maintaining sincerity, punctuality and hundred percent attendance throughout the training period.
He added that decorative candles have good demand in the local as well as outside market and a state like Sikkim specially Yuksam and Pelling area being tourist hotspots offers wide opportunities for a perfect market. He urged the trainees to capitalize on the skills imparted to mark a new beginning.
He assured every possible assistance from the department in making their ventures sustainable which would help them in earning good income on a regular basis in future. He further added that such training programmes and other livelihood activities carried out under IWMP would help in empowering the poor rural community specially women and unemployed youth making them self-reliant. He also thanked the trainers from Kyongnosla SHG for conducting the training in an efficient and effective manner.
During the programme, high yielding cardamom seedlings were also distributed to the local farmers under works component of IWMP.
The valedictory function was also attended by Secretary, SLNA, Tshering Pintso Bhutia, DFO-cum-PIA, IWMP-I West, DK Rai, ACF (W/L), Urmila Subba, RO-cum-Project Leader, Livelihood Experts, SLNA and members from Watershed Committees.