THIRUVANTHAPURAM: In a significant move to empower Scheduled Caste (SC) women and revive Kerala’s traditional coir industry, over 500 women have registered for a new government-backed skill development initiative. Backed by an allocation of Rs 1.92 crore by the Kerala SC Development Department, it offers practical training in coir mat making, compost production, and geotextile manufacturing. In addition to providing participants with employable skills, the program is anticipated to alleviate the scarcity of skilled labourers in the coir manufacturing industry.
The National Coir Research and Management Institute (NCRMI), under the Coir Development Department of Kerala, and the Scheduled Caste Development Department of the Kerala government work together to carry out the project.
The candidates were selected through an application received online and the application process started in May. Training sessions for the selected candidates are set to begin soon across 10 districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Thrissur, and Alappuzha.
“This initiative is expected to enhance the livelihoods of women from the backward community by enabling sustainable income generation through employment and entrepreneurship in the coir industry,” said a senior government official.
NCRMI Director Abhishek C stated that the training will take place in local coir societies, with incentives and stipends provided to the participants. “This will not only encourage more women to join but also help create a skilled workforce to meet the growing demand for coir products such as geotextiles and coir pith compost,” he said.
The move has been welcomed by industry stakeholders. “We often struggle to meet delivery timelines due to a lack of trained workers,” said Ajith Kumar, a coir exporter from Alappuzha. “By covering the cost of training, the government is giving the sector a much-needed boost.”