Keeping in view the objectives to improve the professional competence and upgrade the knowledge and develop technical skills of subject matter specialists/ extension workers and to improve an opportunity of experience sharing, problem solving and interaction between experts and subject matter specialists a Model Training Course entitled ‘Promoting Occupational Safety and Drudgery Reduction among Farm Women’ was conducted for 8 days during 3rd to 10th November, 2016, which was sponsored by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Directorate of Extension, New Delhi, Govt of India . Total 13 numbers of participants from 2 states (2 from Chattishgarh & 11 from Odisha) attended the training programme, out of which 8 were male and 5 were female candidates. The participants were from Directorate of Agriculture, Directorate of Horticulture, OFMRDC, Odisha, Watershed Mission, Odisha and ICAR-CIWA. In this Model Training Course, the lectures were planned in such a way that it could give overall picture in agriculture and to share knowledge in different issues related to occupational health hazard, safety and drudgery reduction of farm women. The training programme was conducted through lectures, demonstrations, video shows, field visits etc. Pre as well as post evaluation of the training programme was conducted. Overall grading by the participants was 3.6 on the scale of 1-4.
           All the participants were provided knowledge and upgraded their skill regarding gender perspective in agriculture, occupational health hazards, women friendly tools and equipment, anthropometrical & strength issues in design/ assessment of farm tools and equipment for women, physiological workload, aerobic capacity, ergonomics, drudgery, safety and its assessment techniques. Knowledge about role of Bureau of Indian Standards in Farm Mechanization, role of ICT, statistical analysis techniques, women friendly IPM techniques, drudgery issues in horticulture, seed technology, livestock, fishery sectors and Government programmes specific to NABARD and RKVY were highlighted.
        The inaugural session was chaired by Dr Jatinder Kishtwaria, the Honourable Director ICAR-CIWA and the valedictory function was conducted on 10.11.2016 under the chairmanship of Dr S. K. Srivastava, I/C Director, ICAR-CIWA. The chief guest was Dr P. N. Jagadev, Honourable Dean of Extension Education, OUAT, Bhubaneswar. The MTC was coordinated by Dr Jyoti Nayak, Dr Abha Singh and Miss Gayatri Moharana.