Maha university offers textile diploma for powerloom workers

Updated on: Monday, February 06, 2012

The Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University is enrolling powerloom workers for a short-term course, which will enable them to seek admission to its diploma course in textiles.

These workers are from areas like Malegaon, Bhiwandi, Mumbra, Amravati, Kamptee and Ichalkaranji in the state, the Nashik-based varsity has said.
 
"There are about two lakh powerloom workers in these areas and their educational level is not very high. However, over the years, they have developed some unique skills at their workplace, which are not recognised by society or any educational institution. These highly skilled workers hold no certificates, are meagerly paid and cannot even enter a bank for loans," YCMOU Spokesperson Shrinivas Belsare said.
 
At an event at Malegaon recently, the University decided to recognise the capacities and creativity of these workers with the help of professional skill tests and provide them with certificates jointly with the Municipal Corporation of Malegaon, Directorate of Vocational Training, of Maharashtra Government and the Directorate of Textiles.
 
The tests conducted by YCMOU found 1,300 'mukadamas' (supervisors) in powerlooms of Malegaon to be qualified for high skills in their work.
 
The certificates entitle these "unique students" of the university for a loan from the Bank of Maharashtra, a job in any textile mill in the capacity of head mechanic and recognition of their skills, Belsare said.
 
"Poverty taught workers hard work and sustained work taught them skills. Now, open education has given them the opportunity of a lifetime," noted film lyricist Bashar Nawaz said at the certificate distribution function.
 
The University has a mandate of providing educational opportunities to underprivileged sections of society, YCMOU Vice-Chancellor R Krishnakumar said.
 
"We decided to recognise the capacities and creativity of these workers by providing them with certificates," he said.

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