Minister Biswajit pitches for promoting local products
Source: Chronicle News Service / 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' at the Classic Hotel here on Tuesday.
Speaking at the inaugural function of workshop being organised by the Mission for Economic Empowerment of Traditional Artisans and Craftsmen (MEETAC), minister Biswajit highlighted achievements of MEETAC, and expressed gratitude to former Governor 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 standardising these designs, he expressed confidence that the Mission will further aid in developing the traditional crafts design.
This will also ensure enhancing the production capabilities and economic status of artisans and craftsmen, he said.
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, the minister maintained and explained 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.
The chief guest also said MEETAC has helped in exploring the hidden talents of our 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 added.
Biswajit Singh also suggested a repetition of Doll Making training for the artisans and craftsmen as dolls have a good market.
He also said that the handloom and textiles is an important sector, playing a significant role in sustaining livelihood of the people.
Further asserting that the present government promotes handloom and handicrafts, he opined that we should be proud of our handloom and handicraft products.
As part of the inaugural function, seed money was 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.
MEETAC in collaboration with National Institute of Design (NID) has already completed two projects and currently the Phase III project is being implemented.
During the First two projects, seven crafts namely Doll Making, Dry Flower, Bead Jewellery, Loin Loom Woven Fabric, Cane & Bamboo, Metal Craft/Metal Tribal Jewellery and Wood Craft were covered.
MEETAC, an autonomous Society under the Department of Textiles, Commerce & Industries, was launched on September 1, 2018 and currently operating in all the districts in collaboration with National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition (CIRC), New Delhi and DASSO, USA.
The inaugural ceremony of "Strategic Design Intervention Workshop for New Product Development and Production Capability Enhancement for Manipur Crafts" was also attended by MEETAC CEO SS Chhabra, TCI secretary Michael Achom, principal designer CS Susanth and NID senior designer Bindoo Ranjan, Training & Extension director Elangbam Nirmala Chanu and MEETAC officials among others.
The workshop will train around 90 artisans in Clay Pottery - Nungbi & Andro Pottery, Cane & Bamboo, Kauna Craft, Stone Craft and Textile - Moirang Phee, Lasing Phee & Rani Phee.
The product development would be for daily utility and lifestyle products.
The workshop will be conducted at seven venues namely, Sawombung, Khangabok, Luwangsangbam, Kongba Nongthombam Leikai, Toupokpi, Kongba Nandeibam Leikai and Andro Khunou Leikai.
The artisans will be trained by designers from NID.
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