A total of 9 female youths are taking part in a three-month-long training in Traditional weaving in Toedung which begins today. The training is being conducted by Royal Textile Academy, Thimphu under Skills Development Program (SDP) of the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources.
The training aims to enhance each participant’s skills and knowledge in Toedung Weaving to create self-employment and fulfil the domestic needs. Toedung is the outer jacket worn by women of Merak and Sakteng and it requires a special set of skills unlike any other weaving activities. Until then, the people of Merak and Sakteng, Trashigang have been importing Toedung from Arunachal Pradesh, India. The participants will also learn to maintain career professionalism and safety while weaving and for trading Toedung. Upon Completion of the training, the participants will also be provided with 2 weeks Basic Entrepreneurship Course.
The SDP is, to mitigate the socio-economic impacts caused by the pandemic and to respond to the challenges posed by pandemic and to enhance the country’s economic resilience in the post-pandemic situation. The SDP program is also envisioned to benefit job seekers, laid-off workers, overseas returnees, and those affected by the current pandemic. More than 108 skilling areas in nine priority sectors are identified for implementation under the SDP in various public institutes and training centres.