The International Committee of Industrial Artisanal and Service Producers’ Cooperatives (CICOPA) is a non-governmental organisation within the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). A body that specialises in producers’ cooperatives offering industrial and artisan product services, its primary mission is “promoting cooperation in every country” and “aiding and strengthening friendly contacts and business relations between cooperatives…”

CICOPA’s objectives are:

• To advocate the cause of industrial and artisanal cooperatives in international organisations.

• To assist exchange of experiences, of technologies and of member cooperatives, in particular, between those in developed and in developing countries

• Conducting actions of solidarity between cooperative movements, in particular, mutual information and training programmes (where the image of cooperation has faded) and technical and management training according to the needs.

In India, CICOPA has two project areas, in New Delhi and in Bangalore. The project aims at strengthening the marketing and management skills of cooperatives.  The Bangalore Unit of CICOPA began functioning in August 1993, with technical and financial support from CICOPA, Geneva. It works with handicrafts, handlooms, leather and producers’ women cooperatives. The main purpose has been to provide marketing, professional and managerial skills to key leaders engaged in artisanal, industrial cooperative sector with a view to improve skills, performance and marketing capabilities; establishing and strengthening of institution building efforts.

The project also aims at creating additional employment opportunities and improving trading relations and collaboration with counterpart organisations in India and abroad.

The services of CICOPA are rendered to members of primary and secondary cooperatives and self-help groups in the sectors of industrial, artisanal and producers’ cooperatives. CICOPA provides guidance, consultancy and advisory services to member cooperatives and self help groups and assists them in organising educational and training programmes. Business opportunities are disseminated to those members to enhance the marketing of their products.

The CICOPA Project in Bangalore has been turning women into successful entrepreneurs and businessmen with its skill training programmes throughout the year.

indiamarkets spoke to Chhaya Patil, Project Officer and looked up ‘Stree,’ an outlet that showcases and sells products from CICOPA entrepreneurs.

indiamarkets: What training programmes does CICOPA hold?
Patil: The training programmes held at CICOPA, Bangalore, are aimed at imparting skills making women self-reliant as they turn into entrepreneurs. We hold about ten training courses each year. The programmes train women in skills such as candle-making, stencil printing, ‘kasuti’ embroidery, leather work, soft toy making, stained glass painting, pot painting, painting on different media, besides the traditional Mysore painting.

We have a Basic and an Advanced course in each training programme.

indiamarkets: Who attends these and who trains them?
Patil: The programmes are aimed at developing skills for women who belong to rural areas. They need not possess high educational degrees. In fact, no educational qualifications are required.

The resource persons, who train the students, are required for periods ranging from five days to a month.

indiamarkets: How are these programmes financed?
Patil: We do not get any grant from the government or any other agency. We only collect a nominal amount from those who attend our skill training programmes. This is about enough to cover the charges of the teacher who conducts the course and for the material required.

indiamarkets: Do you have a minimum number of people to attend in order to hold the class?
Patil: Well, we have worked with different numbers ranging from a minimum of eight to a maximum of 45 trainees. However, we hold a class even if a single person attends it.

indiamarkets: Is there any subject dealt with, in the training programmes, which is particularly popular?
Patil: Till now, we have not repeated any skill in our training programmes. This is in spite of high demand for certain skills like soft toy-making and stained glass painting.

indiamarkets: How many of the trainees actually become entrepreneurs? And do you provide any financial assistance to those who need to set up units?
Patil: A large number of our trainees have set up units on their own. However, we do not assist them financially – we do not have tie-ups with any bank or financial institutions. In fact, we are proud to be managing on our own. Some of our trainees have been very successful. For instance, one entrepreneur, who learnt painting here, has set up her own unit with help from ‘Camlin’.

indiamarkets: Is there a sales outlet of products made by the trainees here?
Patil: CICOPA and the Karnataka State Women’s Cooperative Federation have instituted ‘Stree’ - a unit that exhibits and has on sale products made by entrepreneurs including those who have been trained at CICOPA programmes.

indiamarkets: Have you organised any training programmes other than at CICOPA?
Pepsi and YMCA, Bangalore have approached us so that we can conduct activities for their workers. We have a proposal to send our resource persons to these places for skill development. We are currently working on this offer.

indiamarkets: What activities are in the pipeline?
Patil: Courses in candle-making, leather-making and those to train to become a beautician will be held May onwards in Bangalore. Those interested may contact: Chaya Patil, Project Officer, CICOPA, 67, Padmanabhanagar, Bangalore-70. We also arrange for teachers/resource persons when necessary.

I would like to add that CICOPA’s work is made possible only with the guidance of Chairman Vishvanathan, Trustee Secretary P V Prabhu and Regional Director Dr MM Vagannavar.

Ratna, a professional beautician who is now also associated with CICOPA’s ‘Stree', said that ‘Stree’ now has on sale terracota objects, homemade snacks, textiles, garments and jewellery. These products are made by entrepreneurs who were trained at CICOPA programmes.