Department of Under Developed Areas (DUDA), Nagaland conducted a week long training on development of handicrafts from Eastern Nagaland for craftsmen of the area at DUDA Guest House, Kohima on Saturday.
The training-cum-skill improvisation workshop which commenced on September 30 and concluded on Saturday was attended by 10 craftsmen from five tribes of Eastern Nagaland.
Joint director of DUDA, Dr. Anungla Imdong Phom said that the training, first of its kind, was conducted by the department through Under Developed Areas Programme (UDAP) 2018-19 as a pilot project in collaboration with Zynorique Initiatives Society while Purple Tulip, Bangalore and Kharu Design Dimapur as training partners.
She said that craftsmen were selected representing each tribe of the area with a view to improve the traditional bamboo, cane and wooden crafts, which they are have been making, into a saleable product beyond the state. She said that during the week-long training the craftsmen from the area were given the designs and samples of products that the companies require for the market in order to upgrade the traditional skill to the requirement and demand of the market.
She informed that under the programme, the department would be providing the required machinery and also other support for making the different products which the companies would buy back from them, and ultimately enhance their economic condition.
The products would be marketed through Anghya brand–Mongken, which is for apparel and lifestyle, she said.
Going back to the respective areas, the trained craftsmen should also engage in imparting the knowledge within their community, said DUDA director K S Anden Konyak. He also assured that DUDA will extend all support for market linkage through the two companies engaged now and also provide more such skill development opportunities to them.
Purple Tulip’s head of design, Greeshma Gowda and product designer Aditi Kabra and founder & principal designer of Kharu Design, Menuolhoulie Kire as the training partners asserted that they would buy back the finished products and provide market linkages to the craftsmen. They also expressed satisfaction on the samples made by the 10 craftsmen from Eastern Nagaland area.
Proprietor of Zynorique Initiative Society, Richard Belho informed that the two companies would be taking the designs to the respective companies and thereafter put forth addition of their own designs in order to meet the market demand.