Kudumbashree training personnel from 8 States

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Kudumbashree, the nodal agency for implementing the projects of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in Kerala, has started training personnel from eight states for establishing the Micro Enterprise Consultant (MEC) model. A two-day orientation workshop, called ‘Community-based Resources for Enterprise Support and Training’ (CREST), jointly organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and Kudumbashree, kicked off here on Friday. Representatives from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Orissa and Rajasthan are participating in the workshop.   The objectives of the workshop include providing orientation to the states on the MEC model of Kudumbashree, discussing plans and modalities for rolling out CREST and understanding specific requirements of the participating states in finalising the CREST proposal.   CREST, envisaged as an intervention for setting up the MEC model in supporting states, is being led by T Vijay Kumar, joint secretary of Ajeevika in the Ministry of Rural Development, and Sarada Muraleedharan, executive director of Kudumbashree. Principal secretaries (RD), Mission directors of State Livelihood Missions and Livelihood Specialists from the various states are attending the orientation.  In addition, directors of 13 model Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes (RSETI) and the core team of the Bangalore-based National Academy of RUDSETI (Rural Development and Self-Employment Training Institute) are participating in the workshop.  As part of the orientation programme, the representatives from various states visited micro-enterprises in Chadayamangalam, Kottarakara and Vettikavala of Kollam district and in Nedumangad, Vellanad and Nemom blocks here.   James Varghese, principal secretary (LSGD),  would formally inaugurate the workshop at a function to be held at Hotel Mascot here on Saturday. T Vijay Kumar, Sarada Muraleedharan, deputy secretary, MoRD Renuka Kumar and director, Kudumbashree P K Thomas will be present. A video film on Micro Enterprise Consultants will also be screened on the occasion.