Since attending the rural skills development project from September 1, the 36-year-old man from Khaling gewog has learned a bit of plumbing and feels he could make a living out of it.

Kinzang Dorji is among 329 villagers from ten gewogs in Trashgang who were selected for the rural skills development project. Under the project, farmers are trained in basic carpentry, masonry, plumbing, and in-house electric wiring, besides occupational safety and handling tools.

The trainees constructed two toilets in each gewog as part of their training. Instructors said that the structure of toilets was chosen because it involves the skills of all four trades.

In Kanglung as the training concludes, Tshomo from Namla is prepared to work along with her husband who is a mason. Project officials said that the response from female were also good. In Kanglung and Khaling gewogs alone there are 19 women trainees.   

The project manager, Nidup Tshering said, “After the training, 70 selected trainees, the excellent ones, in the four trades carpentry, masonry, electrical and plumbing will be taken to attend the on-the-job-training for about four to five months to large construction works in school constructions.” They will be paid Nu 6,000 a month. 

This is the second such project, the first one was conducted in Haa last year and the trainees were taken to Dawakha, Paro to construct a girl’s dormitory for the school. Similar project will be carried out in the five remaining gewogs of Trashigang and Bumthang dzongkhag.