In an effort to equip and prepare low-ranked employees, the Dagana District Administration recently conducted mushroom cultivation training. About 70 Elementary Service Personnel (ESP) and General Service Personnel (GSP) participated in the training. The initiative intends to prepare these employees, who are currently on contract, to enhance their livelihoods even if they leave their jobs.
During the three-day training, ESP and GSP working in various sectors in Dagana were taught about shiitake and oyster mushroom cultivation.
Tshering Wangchuk, one of the trainers shared that such training will prepare the participants to sustain themselves in case they have to leave their present jobs.
“They are all on contract for one to three years. With the new rule from the RCSC and the ongoing transformation, the job is not guaranteed. We are training them so that they can at least have some ideas to work and earn some income for themselves,” said Tshering Wangchuk, Agriculture Extension Officer.
Some of the participants expressed their gratitude for providing them with skills through such training.
“We are grateful for providing us with such an opportunity. In case we have to quit our jobs, this will benefit us. We can even teach and pass on these skills to our children. The agriculture officials are instructing and teaching us properly,” said Sangay, caretaker of Kana Gewog.
“We have easy access to dried straw. If we cultivate mushrooms using it, then we can earn some income and there won’t be much struggle for money. Even if we quit our jobs, we have the option to practice what we have learned, market it and sustain a livelihood,” said Pem Singer, cleaner at Dagapela Hospital.
A few class twelve students studying Agriculture and Food Security also joined the training.
“After being a part of the training, I understood that it is better to learn it practically instead of just learning the theory. Likewise, after completing high school even if we do not qualify for higher education, I believe that we can sustain our livelihood with such life skills,” said Beesal Rai, a student of Gesarling Higher Secondary School in Dagana.
The training ended on Sunday.
The training was a part of the “Skills for Life” Programme under the District Administration’s initiative with an aim to empower the support employees by providing practical knowledge and abilities to enhance their livelihoods.
Devika Pradhan, Dagana
Edited by Tshering Zam
