Handique opens NE Craft Museum at Guwahati
Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre

New Delhi, July 04 2011: Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Bijoy Krishna Handique today inaugurated the North East Craft Museum at Guwahati.

In his inauguaral speech, Handique said, "While preserving traditional motifs on handicrafts, we should modernise the designs to appeal to the urban consumers across the country by proper finishing and branding.

We should also involve National Institute of Design (NID) on a more long term and sustainable basis for increasing the income of artisans" .

This is the only handicrafts museum in the North East which has artifacts from all the North Eastern States including Sikkim.

Under the initiative of North East Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation (NEHHDC), the Museum was financed by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) and set up in a 10000 Sq.ft.

shed.

Work on the Museum started in 2009 with the disposal of the old and heavy machinery and major repair works took up almost the entire year.

Thereafter the works on the interiors were taken up and it took final shape in 2011.The Museum has a unique collection of basketries some of which are decades old.

JP Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of DoNER, Dr.Ravi Kota, Private Secretary to Minister and Mr.Jagadish Borah, MD, NEHHDC were among the dignitaries present in the inaugural function.

North Eastern Council to Fund Rs 122 Crores for BB Cancer Institute.

While inaugurating a Guest House Cum Hostel Facility at the Dr.B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati today, the Union Minister of DoNER Shri B..KHandique announced that the North Eastern Council would provide the major share of fund amounting to Rs 122 crores for development of the Institute.

He mentioned that the Board of Directors of Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute in its meeting held at New Delhi on 24th February this year, approved the Five Year Plan at a total cost of Rs.197.00 crores involving NEC, DAE and the Government of Assam for development of the Institute.

BK Handique who was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of BBCI also informed the gathering that under the Capacity Development Scheme of the Ministry of DONER , the BBCI undertook several training programmes for doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in various North Eastern States.

The Institute was also engaged in community based awareness programme for control of cancer in the North Eastern States.

He also mentioned that an auditorium with 300 sitting capacity would be ready for inauguration in the current financial year and a Comprehensive Water Supply Scheme would be ready within 3 months.

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