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23rd July 2000

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Footwear to put rural youth on their feet

By Carl Muller

It was not very long ago that the GTZ Vocational Training for Rural Women and Youth (VTW) saw the tremendous potential in footwear manufacture towards generating employment in the rural sector. This was fuelled by the obvious eagerness of young people especially in the Central and North Western Provinces - an eagerness to steer their own way and start their own ventures.

Come to think of it, this has always been the traditional way of our people, with the white and blue collars only coming in with the advent of the colonialists.

In Sri Lanka the GTZ has gone into many areas, taken many avenues, in order to promote small scale self-employment projects including sub-contracting units. However, despite all the goodwill in the world, many project reports have indicated limited success. There have been a few success stories, a few breakthrough, but in many cases, starry-eyed small entrepreneurs have encountered unforeseen problems and constraints.

In considering footwear, the VTW engaged a shoe technologist, R.Wijesinghe, and a footwear marketing specialist, H.M. Ranasinghe, to come up with a positive study - market prospects in terms of self-employment and sub-contracting; whether rural youth could actually engage in income-generating activity in this field; and what training should be provided. The National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) was also involved and a joint survey covered footwear manufacturing units in the Central and North Western Provinces as well as the big footwear companies who could offer sub-contracts to small enterprises.

It is seen that while we can provide the main raw materials in reasonable quantity - leather and rubber and also have an intelligent, literate and easily-trained workforce, it is still necessary to import most of the other components such as insole boards, eyelets, tacks, rivets, ornaments etc. Non-leather and other materials are also used such as canvas, plastic cloth and rubber. In fact, out of a production of 35 to 40 million pairs of shoes, sandals, boots, slippers etc. per year, only ten percent are of leather or a leather mix!

What is more, one deterrent to the rural small scale manufacturer is the non-availability of machinery and equipment. Many rural youth, hoping to get ahead, produce footwear by hand and rely on a sewing machine and a so-called 'grinder' which they use for trimming, scouring and finishing. They have no access to buyers and supply sources and, even if they have the resources, find it hard to find their own workers. Apparently, many gravitate towards the garment industries and are unwilling to give up the "bird in the hand" for a career in footwear!

Yet, the VTW and NAITA adopted a positive outlook. After all, in Nattarampota, Kandy, there is a leather goods design centre. Also, the Department of Small Industries has set up Leather Products Training Centres in Suduhumpola, Kandy and Yatawara, Wattegama; a Leather Products Advisory Unit exists in Kurunegala, set up by the Industrial Services Bureau; and the Industrial Development Board has its Leather Products Training Centre in Matara, ably supported by the Exports Development Board.

Of late, the Integrated Rural Development Programme, the National Youth Services Council and the World University Service of Canada have also pushed for the dissemination of know-how and technology transfer. Training centres at Beliatta, Katuwana and Suriyawewa have helped promote small scale footwear manufacture in the outskirts. It was NAITA that designed the best training modules and brought about an awareness of the potential with all help from the IFB, the regional IRDP's and even Sarvodaya and World Vision Lanka. Also, a Leather Products Development and Common Facilities Centre has been set up by the IDB at Katubedde, while the Sri Lanka Footwear Association conducts short-term footwear manufacture courses with the help of GTZ.

It would not be out of place to also consider Wadiri in Jaffna that was once a hive of activity in the footwear industry, producing highly-skilled workers even down to the small backyard shoe-making unit. The war practically wiped it all out, but this is now being recalled to life by the UNDP.

All this has the makings of a most positive scenario. Rising living standards see the demand for shoes. This is particularly so in the rural sector.

A VTW study shows that the per capita consumption of footwear is likely to increase from its present 1.5 pairs per annum to a substantially higher level in the next four to five years. The increase in population would also mean a near doubling of local demand to almost 50 million pairs per annum, while exports could very likely reach the 75 million mark by 2005.

However, there is now an increase of shoe imports from Thailand, Taiwan, China and India, and local manufacturers feel that SAFTA poses a very real threat to the local industry and thereby, to all small-scale manufacturers.

It is with all this in mind that the NAITA Leather Footwear Production Training Centre was inaugurated on June1. Perched on a hillock over the Kandy-Kurunegala Road at Yatiyawala, I found it a hive of activity while above, the skies were miserable and drippy and umbrellas bobbed frantically when NAITA Chairman R. I. Samaratunga together with Training Director P.D. Dharmawardena arrived. We got in before the crush. VTW Team Leader Kumudhini Rosa and her staff, while Professor Dr. Klaus Acktele from the GTZ Colombo simply breezed in, smiling hugely.

There are 20 trainees here - 12 male and eight female - and mostly all from the surrounding villages. Ms. Rosa told me that the VTW had up to 85 applicants, even one from Trincomalee and another from Puttalam. Apparently, the obvious difficulties kept them away. One of the men is a jailor from the Pallekelle Open Prison. He wants to start his own footwear unit for internees as part of a prisoner rehab scheme. Right now, the trainees are producing a range of popular footwear - court shoes, Oxford and Derby range, moccasins, children's shoes, sandals and both two strap and hand woven 'Karachi' slippers. As NAITA Chairman said, "We are envisaging a cottage industry which could feed major manufacturers with components."

Perhaps, this is the right and proper way to go. In any event, footwear is bound to put rural youth on their feet!


New 100 years ago

The filthy Pettah

In a hard-hitting editorial, the 'Independent' blames the authorities for neglecting the Pettah area. Titled 'The Pettah of Colombo' it begins: "The locality is admitted to be one of the most overcrowded and unhealthy parts of Colombo and very little has been done to improve the unenviable reputation. Some of the lanes particularly, are in a very insanitary condition and the smells emanating therefrom are such as will provoke feeling of disgust among the most apathetic passers-by. Unsightly hovels still abound and many buildings even including some of the large shops along Main Street appear to be in a dilapidated and dangerous condition. Are these premises inspected as they should be?"

The lengthy editorial then goes on to suggest various steps for the improvement of Pettah.

Note: After a hundred years, the picture has not changed much.

Clerical Service exam

W. T. Taylor, acting Colonial Secretary announces that an examination for candidates wishing to enter the Third Class of the Clerical Branch of the Public Service will take place starting Monday, August 20. There are 30 vacancies. Those who are between 18 - 21 years of age on 1st August can apply. Clerks in Fourth Class with three years experience are also eligible to apply. The examination will be held in Colombo and Jaffna.

The examination is in two parts. One is a qualifying examination in handwriting, spelling and arithmetic. The other has a number of subjects: English, arithmetic, native language - written translation out of/into/grammar - reading and translation of an original document/interpretation. A candidate can sit for Latin or Maths in place of the native language.

Ananda doing well

S. M. Burrows, Director of Public Instruction paid a surprise visit to Ananda College. After spending over an hour minutely inquiring into everything connected with the institution and examining one or two classes he went away apparently well pleased with the work and management.

Gambling on street

In Vincent Street, New Bazaar, gambling is carried on in the public high road by some rowdy characters of the place and the constable in charge has not taken any steps to arrest the accused as yet.

Tramway riot case

Mr. Felix R. Dias, Additional District Judge is hearing the Tramway Riot case in which 19 men and a woman were charged with unlawful assembly, mischief, causing hurt and riot. The case is the result of an accident in May on the Grandpass line when a child was knocked down by a tramcar and killed. The accused with others stopped the cars and assaulted some of the motormen and conductors and damaged cars.

Promotions

The Secretary of State has approved the following promotions in the Medical Department consequent on the death of Dr. Gratien, Colonial Surgeon.

Dr. G. Schokman, the Senior Colonial Surgeon on Rs. 6,000 per annum to be Colonial Surgeon, Western Province in place of Dr. Gratien on Rs. 8,000. Dr. E. de Livera to be Colonial Surgeon on Rs. 6,000. Dr. F. Oorloof to be Colonial Surgeon on Rs. 5,500.

University scholarship

A pupil from Royal College, M. T. Akbar was successful the University Scholarship examination held by the Oxford and Cambridge Examinations Board awarded for proficiency in Mathematical subjects.

Announcing his progress, the Director of Public Instruction says it's the first time that a Malay has won the scholarship and that it is hoped that his example will infuse his co-religionists with a greater desire for educational advantages. He has matriculated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. His predecessor, C. B. Kumarakulasinghe, university scholar 1899 matriculated at Merton College, Oxford and after a very satisfactory start fell ill and died early in 1900.

Styles aplenty

F. X. Pereira of 104, Main Street, Pettah announces the availability of high grade clothes for the Queen's Birthday Levee. A half-page advertisement announces "the most exquisite styles in costumes consisting of French Muslins, Swiss Spangs, fancy Grenadines, Brilliant evening Silk Gauzes, fine lace cloth etc; from 25 cents to Rs. 2 per yard. – Media Man

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