AGARTALA, August 25 (TIWN): The Rubber Board of India is eyeing at higher production of rubber latex in the state with the introduction of proper training. Rubber Board Chairman Sheela Thomas said while addressing a certificate distribution ceremony that the state shared a huge potential for augmentation of rubber cultivation. Rubber growers could deploy organized and trained skills to enhance the production graph in the days ahead, Thomas said. The debut batch of Rubber Nursery Worker Training Programme was held at Sanskritik Bhawan in Tulabagan near Mohanpur Higher Secondary school today. Sheela Thomas today said while addressing the pilot batch of the trainees that the state was suitably situated for rubber cultivation. The training scheme for skill development of the rubber nursery workers was launched on June 18 in Tripura after Kerala.

 The Government of India announced Standard Training Assessment and Rewards (STAR) scheme earlier in August, 2013 to promote acquire skills for different job roles.

 The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) implemented the scheme in a number of job sectors for different jobs across the country through its training partner IL&FS Skills Development Corporation.

The first batch of trainees in rubber cultivation signed out of the training session today. Sheela Thomas today said that trained workers who received certificates are now efficient to join the rubber sector.

 Rubber Sector Development Council of India Chairman Vinod Simon stated that the training imparted scientific knowledge to traditional rubber growers and aimed at augmenting rubber cultivation with the available infrastructure in the state.