Ranchi, Nov. 10: Birsa Agriculture University vice-chancellor N.N. Singh today stressed on vocational training for uneducated women to make them self-reliant.

Singh was speaking at the convocation ceremony of Jan Shikshan Sansthan, which is run by Vikas Bharati and provides vocational training to women.

The vice-chancellor added that when the world had been hit by economic recession and industrial giants had faltered, turning to small trade seemed to be the only viable option.

“Today when big firms have closed down, small business is the only way out for this economic meltdown,” he said. Singh stressed to eradicate poverty and unemployment, women should be financially independent.

Jan Shikshan Sansthan is involved in providing vocational training to poor uneducated women since 2003. The courses offered here include artificial jewellery-making, beauty and health care, carpentry, mushroom cultivation, knitting, bangle making, poultry farming, welding and fabrication.

At the convocation, graduates of the institute displayed their skills by putting up kiosks of eatables, knitted garments and candles.

“We work under self-employment scheme and are earning enough to send our children to schools,” said a group of ladies who graduated today.