A sensitization workshop on cluster development in Nagaland was held Friday, at Alaphra Group Conference Hall, Riverbelt Colony, Dimapur. It was sponsored by the Development Commissioner -Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.
It was organised by Regional Resource Centre for Cluster development (RRC) Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), an organization under the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship, GoI. At the program, a welcome address and briefing about the workshop was delivered by IIE senior project officer Hemanta Rabha. Nagaland handloom & handicraft development, cooperation Ltd deputy project manager, Itoka, as the guest speaker, maintained that at present, Nagaland Handloom and Handicraft was presently looking after eight clusters, implementing programs in them and working closely with weaving sectors under the Central ministry of textiles. It has an office at Toluvi village Dimapur, and the basic objective of the program is to upgrade skills of weavers, teaching them the use of frame looms and machines so that they may speed up and improve production quality and quantity.
The clusters also include training for trainees on dyeing and designing. Itoka also reported that the first batch from all eight clusters had completed their training and the process of giving them frame looms through subsidies was in progress. He also mentioned upcoming programs for the clusters in the second phase. There are two officers, Cluster Development Executives (CDE) and designers with the weavers for each cluster, to help them find markets for their products, he added.
Delivering the inaugural address on behalf of Er. S. Temsulong Jamir (Industries & Commerce Nagaland, director), MSME-DI deputy director, Er Tali Longchar in his speech shared from their experience in promoting clusters in the state. He also mentioned the importance of, and the need for, team work and trust building that can help cluster development succeed in the state.
Later, a vote of thanks was delivered by IIE research executive, Sandhya Devi Sharma.
The program was followed by a technical and interactive session.