Free child care training programme for women launched in Visakhapatnam
The 360-hour programme, described by the organisers as the first such initiative in India under the aegis of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, aims to equip women with skills to care for children aged between two and six years and improve their employment prospects.
Inaugurating the programme at the Sri Sathya Sai Mahila Skill Development Centre, the organisation’s Andhra Pradesh State President R Lakshmana Rao said providing women with employment-oriented skills was an important part of its service activities.
He urged the trainees to utilise the opportunity to become economically self-reliant.
The training is open to women aged between 19 and 40 years.
Those who successfully complete the course will receive government-certified certificates and can seek employment in baby care centres, hospitals, kindergartens, day-care centres and home-based child care services.
Yuvatha Reddy will provide specialised training to the participants.
The programme is being offered free of cost and is expected to benefit unemployed women, homemakers and others seeking livelihood opportunities.
Deputy Commissioner of Labour K Dinesh Kumar, District Skill Development Officer N Govindarao, Dr M Madhavi, a specialist in geriatric medicine, and paediatrician Dr Rajani Mukherjee attended the programme. They appreciated the initiative and said trained child care professionals had considerable employment opportunities.
On the occasion, Lakshmana Rao and Kamala Triveni released the ‘Bala Sevika and Education in Human Values (EHV) Handbook’, which highlights the importance of providing children with a safe and nurturing environment and inculcating human values.
Earlier, they planted medicinal saplings at the centre as part of the organisation’s ‘Prema Tharu’ tree plantation initiative.
District and State-level office-bearers and coordinators of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, along with other representatives and devotees, attended the programme.
