Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 17:
The presentation of State Award to selected Master craftsmen by the Commerce and Industries Department was held at the conference hall of DIC Lamphel.
In all 36 selected craftspersons including 10 of them for State Awards, 12 for Merit Awards and 16 others for Consolation prizes were felicitated during the function attended by Commerce and Industries Minister N Mangi Singh, Principal Secretary (Commerce & Industries) PC Laumkunga and Director (Commerce and Industries) Dhiraj Yumnam as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.
The award consist of Rs 5000 in cash along with a citation for the State award, Rs 2000 and a citation for Merit Award and Rs 1000 along with a citation for consolation award.
Giving the welcome address, Director (Commerce and Industries) Dhiraj Yumnam said that although presentation of State Award to Master craftsmen was started in 1979, it had remained stop from 1988 to 2003, But following the instruction of the Minister who recognises the need to encourage the craftsmen, the presentation of the award has been started presenting from this year (2004-05), he said.
Elaborating on the benefits entitled to the all the awardees could avail Central pension scheme in which a monthly pension amount of Rs 1000 would be provided on attaining 60 years of age.
They would also be honoured as special invitees in the State functions, besides being the privileges of conducting live demonstration in various crafts related programmes in and outside the State.
If a Government employee get such award, there would be an increment in his/her salary, the Director, informed.
In his address as chief guest of the function, Mangi said Manipur is being introduced to the World by its handloom and handicrafts, culture and sports.
In the absence of any heavy and medium size industries, handloom and handicraft played an important role in the socio-economic life of the people and hence this sector should be developed by setting up more state of the art emporium to for these products, the Minister observed.
He further disclosed that a proposal has been send to the Centre for setting up an Urban Haat to provide an Outlet to sell and promote the products of this sector.
Side by side, efforts are also being made for organising a North East Expo on Handloom and Handicraft products at Kangla sometime in September or October.