MEETAC's Strategic Design Intervention workshop begins
Handloom and textiles play a significant role in sustaining livelihood, says Th Biswajit
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, November 16 2021: Textiles, Commerce & Industries, Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh inaugurated a two-week long 'Strategic Design Intervention Workshops For New Product Development and Production Capability Enhancement for Manipur Crafts' today at the Classic Royal Hall, Hotel Classic.

The workshop, organized by the Mission for Economic Empowerment of Traditional Artisans and Craftsmen (MEETAC) will conclude on December 1.Thongam Biswajit Singh, addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, highlighted the achievements of MEETAC, and expressed gratitude to former Governor of Manipur Dr.Najma Heptulla for her vision and assistance in establishing MEETAC.

Stating that MEETAC has helped in preserving the dying traditional crafts and designs of Manipur, and in standardizing these designs, he asserted that it will further aid in developing the traditional crafts design.

MEETAC's Strategic Design Intervention workshop begins

This will also ensure enhancing the production capabilities and economic status of artisans and craftsmen, he added.

Another big achievement of MEETAC is the preparation and launching of a Craft Map of Manipur and Coffee Table Book- Panorama of Handlooms and Handicrafts of Manipur.

He continued that under MEETAC, surveys and training are conducted in all 16 districts of the State.

MEETAC would establish linkages for traditional crafts/arts of Manipur with national, international markets and e-markets, he added.

He maintained that MEETAC has helped in exploring the hidden talents of the craftsmen and artisans.

By the end of the Phase II of MEETAC, more than 160 Souvenir Proto-Types have been developed and more than 124 traditional artisans have been trained.

He also suggested a repetition of Doll Making training for the artisans and craftsmen explaining further that dolls have a good market.

The Minister also said that the handloom and textiles is an important sector, playing a significant role in sustaining the livelihood of the people.

As a part of the inaugural function, seed money was also distributed to 50 artisans in the craft of Doll Making, Dry Flower, Bead Jewellery, Loin Loom Woven Fabric, Cane & Bamboo, Metal Craft/Metal Tribal Jewellery and Wood Craft.

It may be noted that MEETAC is an autonomous Society under the Department of Textiles, Commerce & Industries which was launched on September 1, 2018 by the then Governor of Manipur and it is chaired by the Minister (TCI) and function of the Society is executed by a duly appointed CEO.

MEETAC is operating in all the districts of Manipur.

It is working in collaboration with National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition (CIRC), New Delhi and DASSO, USA.

The inaugural ceremony was also attended by SS Chhabra, CEO, MEETAC, Michael Achom, Secretary (TCI), CS Susanth, Principal Designer and Bindoo Ranjan, Senior Designer, NID, Elangbam Nirmala Chanu, Director (Training & Extension), MEETAC among others.

Around 90 artisans from 5 crafts namely Clay Pottery � Nungbi & Andro Pottery, Cane & Bamboo, Kauna Craft, Stone Craft and Textile � Moirang Phee, Lasing Phee & Rani Phee will be trained by designers from NID during the workshop.

The product development would be for daily utility and lifestyle products.

And the workshop will be conducted at seven venues namely, Sawombung, Khangabok, Luwang sangbam, Kongba Nongthongbam Leikai, Toupokpi, Kongba Nandeibam Leikai and Andro Khunou Leikai.