NCHD Accomplished Skill, Income Generating Programmes For Women At KPK, FATA

The National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has accomplished skill building and income generating programmes for women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and tribal areas (formerly Federally Administered Tribal Areas-FATA).

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Oct, 2018 ) :The National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has accomplished skill building and income generating programmes for women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and tribal areas (formerly Federally Administered Tribal Areas-FATA).

According to the progress report of Functional Literacy Program 2018 by NCHD, a total of 1130 Functional Literacy Centers (FLCs) comprising of 98 percent of female FLCs from November 2017 to May 2018 have been set up in KPK and former FATA.

The FLCs have been set up at 23 districts of KPK and 3 agencies of tribal areas (former FATA) including KPK districts of Lower Dir, Mansehra, Charsadda, Shangla, Abbotabad, Kohat, Hangu, Haripur, Swat, Swabi and Dera Ismail Khan.

The programmes had focused introducing formal income saving and generation and life skills whereas the word 'Functional' rather than 'Basic' was used for those Literacy Centers in the period, the report said.

Adding, two skills, 'kitchen gardening' and 'Poultry Farming' were introduced by the head office and for the purpose books were also provided. However, districts were made free to select one another skill also as per learners' need and interest, the report said.

The report said that Literacy Team at Lower Dir actively involved in various activities in the district to implement functional literacy program in its true spirit. They have been to develop linkages with multiple organizations and institutions to achieve fruitful results on income generating and saving skills.

It added that most of the FLCs selected embroidery and tailoring. Although no budget was allocated for this new idea still districts achieved excellent results by engaging resource persons from Government departments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other networks for imparting income saving and generating and life skills sessions.

With the financial and technical assistance of District education Department, NCHD and Agriculture Office have conducted two sessions on Kitchen Gardening and fruits; vegetables value addition, vegetable processing and preservation.

In the training sessions, various kinds of modern techniques shared with the participants through lecture, and practical demonstrations for making Jams, Pickles, vegetables pastes, and fruits juices was shared, the report added.

Income Generation and saving skills have been imparted in most of the FLCs at District Mansehra. NCHD team strived to develop linkages of FLCs with those organizations and institutions that are providing opportunities to buy the products developed at the functional literacy centers.

However, a few districts also selected livestock, beautician programmes, cloth cutting, knitting, sewing courses which were successfully completed with productive results, the report added.

The reported mentioned that in district Swabi there are 40 Adult Literacy Centres (ALCs) working in its two Union Councils (UCs). More than 85 per cent of the land is agriculture based and the people of the district are mostly indulging in agriculture, Livestock is one of the important features of agriculture. The training session pertaining to Livestock awareness was conducted where introduction of Livestock in Pakistan, Basic Tips of Keeping Livestock in Pakistan, diseases of livestock including foot and mouth disease, brucellosis, tuberculosis and Dehydration and heat stress, Anemia theileria and Bracken Poisoning.

However, in a bid to engage the Literacy teachers and learners in income generating/saving activities as envisaged in NCHD Functional Literacy Program NCHD Swat team held sessions in its ALCs through LASs, teachers and learners.

During the process some artisan and entrepreneurs were identified who had potential of becoming successful women entrepreneurs provided they are given trainings and opportunity to market.

WBDC SMEDA Swat team of 5 skilled trainers had an introductory and motivational session on income generating activities held at Swat. During the programme, in order to create and instill a sense of environmental awareness, volunteerism and plant preservation in the community a tree plantation activity was organized by NCHD Swat in village Baidara, Tehsil Matta, Swat.