Empowering special children through skill training in Mandi

In a heartening step towards inclusivity, environmental sustainability and skill empowerment, the Rotary Club of Mandi, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Nerchowk, has launched a 10-day skill training programme, specially designed for children with special needs from Sahyog and Sakar Schools in Mandi district on Monday.

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The inaugural session of the initiative was held at Sahyog School, marking a significant stride towards capacity building, ecological awareness and community engagement.

A spokesperson for Mandi Rotary Club said the programme focused on training intellectually disabled children in the art of creating eco-friendly products using pine needles — a locally available but often underutilised natural resource. Under the guidance of skilled trainers, students and vocational instructors would learn to craft aesthetic and functional items using pine needles, wild grasses, pine cones and Vajantimala beads.

“The initiative aims to nurture creativity, build confidence and promote self-reliance, while encouraging sustainable livelihoods and addressing forest fire prevention through the productive use of dry biomass,” the spokesperson said.

The botany department of Vallabh Government College, Mandi, is actively supporting the initiative as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainable utilisation of forest resources. Renowned eco-entrepreneur Santosh Sachdeva, widely appreciated for promoting and marketing pine needle crafts at local fairs and exhibitions, is spearheading the training. She has also pledged to purchase the students’ handcrafted products, creating a real-world value chain and enhancing the market exposure of their skills.

Speaking on the occasion, Sachdeva remarked, “There is a growing demand for eco-friendly pine needle products, but the supply often falls short due to a lack of skilled artisans and community awareness. Initiatives like this can address environmental challenges, generate livelihoods and empower children with special needs to become self-reliant and confident contributors to society.”

The inaugural ceremony was graced by dignitaries from both Rotary Clubs, including Hem Raj (president, Mandi Rotary Club), Kaushlesh Kapoor (secretary, Mandi Rotary Club), Tara Sen Thakur (senior assistant professor, botany department, Vallabh Government College, Mandi), Surender Mohan, ML Gupta, Lata Gupta, and Dharmender Rana (Rotary Mandi), Amritpal Singh (president, Nerchowk Rotary Club) and Shiv Kumar (Secretary, Rotary Club Nerchowk).

The programme also saw enthusiastic participation from staff members of Sahyog and Sakar Schools, along with other dedicated members of the Rotary Club of Nerchowk, who pledged their continued support for this cause.

Adding an academic dimension to the event, three BSc 1st year botany students — Heena, Yogita and Jitender — attended the programme as part of their exposure visit, gaining first-hand experience in community-based ecological entrepreneurship.

“This collaboration sets an inspiring example of how educational institutions, service organisations and individual change-makers can come together to build a more inclusive, skilled and sustainable society,” said Tara Sen Thakur.