Digital intervention project launched to enhance artisans’ livelihood

Dimapur, Sep. 25 (EMN): Digital intervention on handloom and handicraft sectors for livelihood enhancement of artisans of NE states was launched by the advisor of Industries and Commerce, Labour and Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Imnatiba, at the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (Nielit) auditorium in Kohima on September 24.

Addressing at the launch event, Imnatiba stressed on the importance of digital in this time of the pandemic and expressed confidence that the digital intervention on handlooms and handicrafts sectors would enhance the livelihood of many artisans in the state. He also stated that the state government is giving much importance to handloom and handicraft artisans in order to take forward the rich culture to greater heights, stated a DIPR report.

While appreciating the department of Industries and Commerce and NIELIT for successful implementation of the project, he hoped that through their cooperation and support many opportunities would be opened for the artisans and entrepreneurs to build up their innovative and traditional skills. He added that the initiatives would give value addition in the handlooms and handicrafts sectors.

He further encouraged the artisans to make use of the facilities to enhance their livelihood.

Director of NIELIT, L Lanuwabang, informed that Nagaland is the first state to take up such projects in the Northeast with an aim to produce value added products with quality. He said that the project was initiated to accelerate growth of artisans through training, support services, linkages technology and digital market development, creation of repositories of artisans in the state.

He informed that a total of 5920 tribal youth and women practicing either handlooms or handicrafts in Nagaland would be trained in through the project.

The commissioner and secretary of Industries and commerce, Kekhrievor Kevichusa, stated that NIELIT Kohima has been supporting the department of Industries and Commerce as a start-up incubator and in various IT requirements. He added that the project would not only promote the department but also the artists and artisans in Nagaland to enhance their skills.

Nagaland being the first digital intervention project in the Northeast, Kevichusa stated that the facilities would also be available not just for the trainees but also to the interested entrepreneurs in facilitating linkages for marketing.

He further stated that the department is in the process of identifying how to formalise the protection of intellectual property relating to traditional motifs and symbols.

During the programme, Imnatiba launched the MIS portal and also released the digital literacy book. The programme was organised by NIELIT, in collaboration with the department of Industries and Commerce.