Nagaland bamboo crafts to go online soon

Norman Putusure, Nagaland Bamboo Mission (NBM) team leader handing out receipts to beneficiaries. (Morung Photo)
 
Dimapur, January 10 (MExN): Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency (NBDA) is planning to set up a retail outlet for bamboo craftsmen soon, Norman Putusure, Nagaland Bamboo Mission (NBM) team leader told entrepreneur in Dimapur today. Infrastructure building is in progress at the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre. The outlet will enable bamboo craftsmen to showcase their products in-house and online.
Handing out bamboo handicraft processing machine tools and equipments to entrepreneurs at a function in Dimapur, Putusure added that, once the outlet is operational, craftsmen must focus on increasing production to meet market demands. He said that bamboo craft, in the modern sense of utility, is new and has tremendous scope. He, therefore, encouraged the craftsmen to make use of their talents to compete with the rest of the world. It may be mentioned that Naga bamboo crafts are currently sold online, but the website is handled from Delhi.
The team leader also persuaded the entrepreneur craftsmen to apply their mind and come out with new and contemporary deigns. Putusure told craftsmen not to be threatened about imitation of their designs as the agency will work out royalty for them. He encouraged them to train more people so that, together they can all work towards fulfilling their mission.
While handing out the equipments, Putusure encouraged the entrepreneurs to utilise it judiciously because the agency can only assist them through such means. “It is your responsibility to take the bamboo mission and Nagas forward,” he said. 19 entrepreneur craftsmen received 19 sets of bamboo handicraft processing machine tools and equipments under the National Bamboo Mission Innovative Scheme 2010.  
Member NMB-IT Lipongse, in his keynote address said that, bamboo enterprise is a core focus area of the agency. He said that the aim of the agency is to help rural people and uplift their economic status. Lipongse added that, the agency is providing machineries to make work easier for the craftsmen; so that they can increase their productivity. He encouraged the beneficiaries to utilise the tools and machineries properly.