Artisans honoured with awards
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, February 27 2014 :
There are over 4 lakhs artisans in Manipur which is considered the largest number in the whole North East region.
These artisans also produce good quality handicraft products.
As a result 18 artisans from Manipur have already been presented with national awards and 13 of them endowed with national merit awards by the Central government in recent years.
Knowing this fact of Manipur being the powerhouse of producing talented artisans and their creations, the Central government has been giving more interest and attention at providing more funds to Manipur compared to the other states of the North East.
These information were disclosed during the distribution of award and subsidies to outstanding craftspersons under the schemes of the modernization of handicrafts and assistance to individual artisans for the year 2013-2014 at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen here today.
The awards were presented by Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam, who speaking on the occasion, said that the government of Manipur is planning to increase the cash awards for the outstanding artisans of the state from the present entitlement of Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 from next year.
Manipur handloom and handicraft products being demanded all over India, the state leads this industry all over North East.
With the implementation of Look East policy in the North East, many tourists from within the country as well as from abroad have come and this in turned has triggered the need to produce more handy products keeping the tourists' interest, he added.
On the occasion today, only ten artisans were awarded from 110 artisans nominated for the awards with 158 samples of different products submitted to the Commerce and Industries department.
Organised by the Directorate of Commerce and Industries, Government of Manipur, the award distribution function was also attended by B.John Tlangtinkhum, IAS, director, Commerce and Industries and V.Twalthang, additional director, Commerce and Industries as president and guest of honour respectively.