Union minister of state (MoS) for skill development and entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Saturday asserted that the traditional skills, which had been passed down from generation to generation, should be blended with other modern skills and use them to make products and deliver services to highest markets around the world.
Addressing media persons during his visit to the Handicraft and Carpet Sector Skill Council (HCSSC) at Handicraft Cluster, Sovima village, Dimapur, Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated the mandate given to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to build on whatever has been achieved besides creating new energy to skilling and new purpose to skilling.
Chandrasekhar further maintained that he focused his attention to redesign and creation of Skill India 2.0.
MoS said it was the Prime Minister’s vision that traditional skills would be the backstop to the maximum possibility with any industries, brand and company that was leveraging traditional skills, artisan and creating market access of such products in India and abroad.
In the skill development ministry, he said 80% of his time and ministry’s resources would be dedicated to traditional skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling, and working with industries that could provide market access.
Assuring his assistance, the MoS called for scaling up production besides being ambitious and rethinking what one could do.
He also suggested running and expanding more of such cluster-based training programmes with industry connect, self-employment opportunities and micro entrepreneurial approach for overall benefit of traditional heritage crafts of the region.
Earlier, HCSSC executive member, Jesmina Zeliang, briefing the minister about the cluster, stated that the cluster was working continuously with more than 600 artisans including weavers. She added that the need of the hour was to skill the artisans.
Jesmina, however, maintained that even though the cluster had skilled artisans, there was still necessity to onboard them to next level and partner with industries which would ensure continuous employment.
Further, she said that it was essential that to have a centre of excellence, where artisans could be directly involved with stakeholders that would have responsibility of on boarding them into national and international markets.
“It is absolutely crucial to empower our people to skill development and entrepreneurship otherwise we will continue to lament and blame the government and development instead of looking inwards,” she stated.
Advisor industries and commerce, Imnatiba and advisor information technology and communication, Mhonlumo Kikon, accompanied the union minister.
MoS assures support for improving traditional skills:
Minister of state for skill development & entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar has assured of full support to the state government departments to improve the traditional skills and artisans for prosperity.
MoS made the assurance at the Mongken apparel & garment production & training unit, a convergence project under SANKALP Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship at 5th Mile, Dimapur.
Mongken is the joint venture of three state government departments—department of employment, skill development & entrepreneurship; department of industries & commerce and department for development of underdeveloped areas.
“Skills, artisans and the quality of works in Nagaland are world class while the skills development centers existent in the State need more support,” he said.
He said Mongken center was in complete agreement with Prime Minister Modi’s vision to have traditional skills and artisans connected to global markets with their products and services through the right amount of skilling input and support from the State and Central governments.
MoS said he was deeply impressed with the determination and hard work in the digital printing of traditional motifs into wearables.
He also asserted that the Union Ministry would extend all possible support to uplift the skills development centers in the State.
Chandrasekhar encouraged the Naga youth to be part of the movements like Mongken and the traditional arts and skills that exist in the State to move forward.
MoS was accompanied by advisor IT and new and renewable energy MmhonlumoKikon and advisor industries and commerce Imnatiba. DUDA additional director Dr Anungla Imdong Phom highlighted the different activities of DUDA. She also apprised the MoS on the functioning of Mongken while also seeking further assistance from the Union Ministry towards creating such facilities in the State.