The government should provide IT training to the rural women, particularly working in the agriculture sector, a former caretaker government adviser said yesterday.
“They should get opportunities so they can make their own fortune,” said Rokia Afzal Rahman.
She was speaking at a certificate giving ceremony of ‘Beautification and Beauty Parlour Management’ training course at Spectra Convention Centre in Dhaka.
Managing Director of SME Foundation Syed Rezwanul Kabir presided over the event, while its Chairman Aftab ul Islam and Deputy General Manager Nurul Quadir and Persona Managing Director Kaniz Almas Khan also spoke.
SME (small and medium enterprise) Foundation and Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (BFWE) jointly organised the 10-day in-house training course, in association with Persona Institute of Beauty and Lifestyle.
A total of 27 women, mostly from outside the capital, took part in the training course, designed to help them become small entrepreneurs and create employment opportunities.
Rokia said: “With the training, these women now will be able to set up beauty parlours at their village homes and earn Tk 5,000 to Tk 10,000 a month.”
“We hope they now know how to manage beauty parlour business efficiently.”
The BFWE president thanked the SME Foundation, Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS), a microcredit organisation, and Persona for extending their support to the training programme.
SME Foundation provided daily allowances and tool kits for the trainees from Bogra, Joypurhat, Gaibandha and Dhaka districts, while TMSS arranged accommodation and Persona offered training free of cost.
Rokia called upon the trainees to work hard to become successful entrepreneurs. “Kaniz Almas started with only Tk 2 lakh, but now she is a successful entrepreneur.”
Aftab ul Islam said easy credit with low interest rates should be made available for such trainees to help them succeed in their career.
“There should be allocation for the beauty parlour sector in the national budget, as it is generating jobs for women. Besides, a minimal duty should be imposed on imported equipment and tools used in the sector.”
Islam, also the president of American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham), demanded single-digit bank interest rate for the women entrepreneurs.
“The economy cannot move forward with a 12 percent interest rate that ultimately reaches 18 percent at the end.”
SME Foundation will give the trainees loans between Tk 50,000 and Tk 750,000 at 9 percent interest, said Islam.
Syed Rezwanul Kabir said the Foundation has recently entered into an agreement with Mutual Trust Bank to finance the women entrepreneurs.
He said they would not stop just by providing training to the aspirant beauticians. “After 90 days, we will enquire about what they are doing.”
Kaniz Almas said the training will play a significant role in changing the course of the life of the trainees. “Now they will feel more confident.”
Rokia later distributed certificates among the participants.
TMSS Executive Director Hosne Ara Begum also spoke.
