Five-day training programme for women entrepreneurship inaugurated

Queen Mary’s College for Women, in collaboration with the Madras University Students Advisory Bureau, inaugurated a  five-day training programme for women’s entrepreneurship here on Monday.

Organised by the Post Graduate and Research Department of Economics, the training programme consists of six programmes in which over 50 students will participate.

The event was inaugurated by S Gokula Indira, Minister of State for Tourism, Tamil Nadu, and the Corporation of Chennai Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy. Addressing the students present, Gokula Indira said, “Women can survive wherever they go, in whatever profession they choose to do. They are resilient. But in order to succeed, one needs to plan meticulously. Planning is the only way forward.”

Mayor Duraisamy said that one should not have a fixed idea when it came to business, “Women should think outside the box and come up with innovative business ideas. One must think that they would be just as successful as Ratan Tata or Ambani.” Citing Subramanya Bharathi’s idea of the new age woman, he said that change is the only constant and women should be able to change themselves along with it.

Starting from 23 July, the training programme has courses like fashion jewellery making, cosmetology, glass painting, food product making, toy making and business product making. “Education alone isn’t enough. Special skills and training along with it is also necessary these days. That is what this programme aims to address,” N Raja Hussain, director of the Madras University Students Advisory Bureau told City Express.

Students will be trained in all six courses at the end of which they will receive a certificate. “We picked the students from our college based on their willingness to learn and their socio-economic backgrounds.  We picked those students who we felt needed some extra support to succeed in life,” said K R Seethalakshmi, principal, Queen Mary’s College.

R Rajalakshmi, Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Mylapore constituency, Noorjahan, Councillor of the Mylapore ward, R Madan Mohan, Joint Commissioner and Director Tamil Nadu Labour Studies were the other guests present on the occassion.