Tribal women from Kawal undergo two-month training in bamboo products, furniture making

Around 50 tribal women in Mancherial’s Kawal Tiger Reserve are undergoing a two-month training programme in bamboo products and furniture making under an EDII initiative aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods and women entrepreneurship.

Mancherial: Tribal women are undergoing a two-month intensive training and workshop on bamboo products and furniture making at Nayakapugudem hamlet of Indanpally village, located in the Kawal Tiger Reserve in Jannaram mandal.

The programme is being organised by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) in collaboration with the Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society (HyTiCoS).

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Officials said around 50 tribal women from the village were actively participating in the programme under expert guidance. The workshop began on November 14 and will conclude on January 14.

The women are learning to manufacture a wide range of bamboo products, including mobile stands, pen stands, bangle stands, office trays, chairs, sofas, flower vases, exam pads, foldable relaxing chairs, clips, coffee trays and several other utility and decorative items, officials said.

Devender Bukya, EDII Project Officer, who recently visited the workshop, said the primary objective of the organisation was to empower women by enhancing their skills and enabling them to become financially independent.

“Financial independence brings dignity, respect, and confidence in society. Most rural women are currently engaged in unorganised sectors that demand hard labour but provide very low income. EDII is committed to bridging this gap by supporting women with skill training, entrepreneurship development, and market linkages,” he said.

EDII is jointly conducting a series of skill development training programmes for tribal women living in and around the Kawal Tiger Reserve. These initiatives aim to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities and promote women entrepreneurship among marginalised tribal communities.

Promoting bamboo-based products not only helps reduce plastic usage but also creates sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural and forest-dependent communities, officials said. The women thanked forest officials, EDII and HyTiCoS for taking steps to support their livelihoods through the workshop.

Under the initiative, 280 tribal women from various villages have been trained in income-generating trades, officials disclosed.