Bhuj, 21 June 2012

On the occasion of death anniversary of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS)’s founder Dr. Hedgevarji, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated Delhi-based Seva International’s Handicraft Design & Development Centre in remote Jiyapar village in Nakhtrana taluka in Kutch district.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that Kutch holds tremendous scope for promoting tourism as well as handicraft. Sakhi Mandals or Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have helped women’s empowerment in the state through Gujarat Government’s ‘Mission Mangalam’ Project. There are nearly 2.50-lakh SHGs in the state doing an business of Rs.1,600- crore.

The Delhi-based NGO helps Kutch Kala Seva, which provide self-employment to 400 women, popularize the unique Kutchi handicraft far and wide for modern taste. Incidentally the Trust was also inaugurated earlier by the Chief Minister on the death anniversary of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder late Dr Hegdewar.

Paying tributes to Dr. Hedgewar, Mr. Modi recalled the services rendered by voluntary organizations like RSS in rescue and relief operations at the times of calamities, followed by resettlement and resettlement of the affected persons.

He said that Gujarat Government has launched a special drive for skill development in thousands of trades at 300 centres set up recently across the state helping lakhs of youth find better jobs. To give a comparative figure, he said that Government of India runs skill development programmes in hardly 500 trades, while China does it in 50,000 trades and even marketing their products.