PATHANAPURAM: Twenty five women will gang up on Wednesday to start a new career in Singari Melam (Chenda Ensemble).The women of Kudumbashree self- help group under the Pathanapuram Panchayat will undergo six months of rigorous training in the percussion art to form a professional troupe. The training programme will be carried out under the aegis of Micro Enterprises Consultants Forum for Entrepreneurship Development (MACFED) of Kudumbashree and the Panchayat will provide the equipment for training and starting a new troupe. Panchayat president Fathima Khan told ‘Express’ that the idea sprouted when an all-women Singari Melam troupe from Kottarakkara performed during a panchayat function some months back. “The Kudumbashree members were excited when the proposal was first made, but initially we doubted whether sanction will be given to start such a programme under Kudumbashree. Luckily we managed to get the nod and now the women are excited in taking up this new profession,” she said. The women, who will undergo training, are in the age group from 18 to 45 and majority are mothers. Trainer B Unni said that it would be a tough task ahead for the women, as training would be too strenuous at this age. “They will undergo two hours of training daily and will initially be asked to practise with the sticks on rocks instead of a ‘chenda.’ They would be able to conduct small performances in six months,” he said.
Comments
0 comment