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The observation home in Ranchi
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Ranchi, Feb. 13: The boys of observation homes across the state are learning to stitch together a new life.
The state social welfare department, in collaboration with Unicef, has started a three-month life skill education and vocational training programme to make the inmates self-reliant. The training, which started on January 20 and will continue till March, is focusing on trades like IT, yoga, stitching, art and craft.
In Jharkhand, there are nine remand homes for boys and much to the surprise of the trainers, the inmates are picking up different skills quite fast.
Vinod Ranjan, a city-based visual artist who is conducting the training at the observation home at Booty More in Ranchi said he was teaching the boys paper and thermocol craft. They are also learning how to paint human figures and portraits among other things.
“I take classes for one and a half hours every evening. The boys are very talented and are picking up the art of making handicraft items really well. I also showed them videos on tribal art and drug abuse,” he added.
There are nearly 60 inmates at the Ranchi home.
Dipesh Prashant Ekka, who is imparting lessons in computer, said, “We have been given 15 days to complete the course and I am trying my best to make the inmates computer savvy. I take classes for two hours every day.”
However, he added that as these adolescents lacked basic education, they had to put in extra efforts. “They are learning the basics now,” Ekka said.
The inmates are also taking stitching classes and are learning to fix buttons on their shirts along with embroidery.
Sanjeev Sharan, deputy secretary in the state social welfare department, said the training was being conducted under life skill development programme.
“This is part of the welfare programme designed by the department for inmates of the state’s observation homes so that they can use their acquired skills later to earn a living when they return to normal life,” Sharan said.
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