State artisans exhorted to adapt to changing markets
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 15 2022:
A two-day regional seminar cum workshop for handicraft artisans, which is jointly being organised by the office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Guwahati and Handicrafts Service Centre (HSC) Imphal under the aegis of Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY), commenced from Tuesday at Hotel Tampha, North AOC, here.
Speaking as chief guest of the inaugural session, Shilp Guru award winning artisan G Shanti called upon the artisans to update themselves for understanding the market mood and trend in order to bring out new products, new designs and to keep their trades relevant.
Today, custom design has become a new normal as simply sticking to one or two designs will not necessarily impress the market.
In order to stay relevant in the market, artisans need to understand the changing trend and bring out multiple designs and products while maintaining quality, Shanti said.
She also encouraged the artisans to avail benefits of various schemes implemented by the government.
In his address, Handicraft Service Centre, Imphal assistant director (H) M Sanjeev Kumar said that the seminar cum workshop has been organised with the objective to create awareness on the various schemes implemented through the DC Handicrafts, and their benefits.
The office is opening e-commerce web portals to provide a platform to the artisans to go online with their business.
It will give them opportunity to sell their products to a vast market and provide them opportunities to participate in marketing events organised in different parts of the country, he said, while urging the artisans to have fair knowledge of this modern technology.
Sanjeev Kumar further said that artisans will need financial assistance to take up new ventures or to expand their business and urged them to build relationship with banks to get their required financial assistance informing that bank officials will provide the necessary information in this regard during the workshop.
The assistant director also pointed out in today's competitive world, design and quality are the driving factors of the market and as such artisans need to have proper knowledge on this, for which experts will provide the required information during the workshop.
National award-winning artisan Meisnam Lalini presided over the inaugural function while NERO Guwahati senior assistant direc tor (H) B Mili, Weaver Service Centre, Imphal deputy director (design) HK Baro, national award-winning artisans M Radhamani and A Lukhoi attended as guests of honour.
In the technical session, resource persons delivered lectures on different topics related with handicraft.
Around 100 artisans from different parts of the state are participating in the workshop.
Pehchan Cards were also distributed to the artisans as a part of the inauguration programme.