Panvel Civic Body Launches Bamboo Craft Training for Women in Kalamboli
The Panvel Municipal Corporation has launched a ward-wise bamboo skill development training programme aimed at equipping women and girls with skills to craft traditional and contemporary bamboo products. The initiative was inaugurated at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan in Kalamboli to help participants explore self-employment opportunities.
Implemented by the civic body's Women and Child Welfare Department, the inaugural event was led by Women and Child Welfare Committee chairperson Mamta Pritam Mhatre alongside civic officials and representatives from partner organisations.
Present at the launch were Corporator Saraswati Kathara, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Mangala Malve, Assistant Commissioner Rupali Mane, department head Kavita Mokal, DAY-NULM manager Vinaya Mhatre, DSS World director Asawari Yevtekar, as well as Maya Sawant and Amol Palskar.
Speaking at the event, Mhatre urged women to enrol in the training and make regular use of the programme. She stated that learning to produce bamboo items could help women set up home-based businesses, small-scale enterprises, and other self-employment ventures to generate supplementary household income.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Mangala Malve briefed attendees on the structure of the training programme and outlined various welfare schemes operated by the department. Malve also discussed the state bamboo policy, the broader importance of the bamboo industry, and the emerging employment opportunities across the sector.
Maya Sawant of DSS World highlighted the role of bamboo as an environmentally friendly alternative to reduce dependence on plastic. She noted that the month-long initiative will provide hands-on training across a range of bamboo items.
During the event, DSS World director Asawari Yevtekar demonstrated and displayed several finished bamboo items, including coffee mugs, fruit baskets, tea trays, lamps, decorative flowers, kitchen sets, table mats, and pockets.
According to civic officials, the practical training is designed to manufacture market-ready, eco-friendly goods, enabling women to participate in small-scale manufacturing and establish independent commercial ventures in the bamboo sector.
