Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 1
A programme for Artisans Skill Training for Development of Bamboo, Cane and Wood Based Handicraft Cluster Development was officially inaugurated by Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Directorate of Industries and Commerce, N Hushili Sema here today at Nagaland Tool Room & Training Centre (NTTC) Dimapur. The programme is being implemented by the Department of Commerce and Industries, Nagaland and supported under the North East Region Textile Promotion Society (NERPTS), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
In the first phase today, 42 artisans and craftsman from Mokokchung and Zunheboto District started the training at NTTC. They will undergo training for 15 days at the NTTC and the department is bearing their expenses. According to officials of the department, the programme will gradually cover all other districts of Nagaland during the financial year 2016-17 and it plans to re-skill 500 artisans under the programme.
Under the current project, the department plans to provide support for 6 (Six) Cane, Bamboo and Wood Based clusters, to be developed and establish in six districts/areas. They include Tuli under Mokochung district; Longleng under Longleng district; Ghathashi under Zunheboto district; Phutsuromi under Phek district; Longwa under Mon District; and Jalukie under Peren district.
Speaking during the occasion, Hushili encouraged and advised the artisans to work hard with determination. She opined that to be a successful person, one should be broadminded, innovative, determined and passionate. Capitalize on your inherent talent and enhance it during the current training and equip yourself fully with skills, the Secretary advised.
After your skilling, at least try to employ 2-3 person on your unit and share your talent with the youngster, she added. She further stressed that Nagas want only easy money without hard labour and have become the “laziest group of people wondering where we have lost our inherent talent.”
Apart from honing their skills, Hushili also called for innovation to meet the demands of the day. Try to link your product with market needs and bring about cost effectiveness so that your product becomes relevant in the market, she urged. Nagaland, she stated, can boost its economy at par with other developed states by providing training and capitalizing on inherent talent with hybrid innovation.
Addl. Director, Industries and Commerce, Er. S. Temsulong Jamir meanwhile said that cluster development approach was a key strategy for enhancing productivity and competitiveness as well as capacity building. It will also enable various services to them, including bank and credit agencies, to provide them services more economically, thus reducing the cost and improving the availability of services for their enterprises, he said.
Jamir also noted that one sector which offers immediate opportunity and the potential to uplift people is the Handloom and Handicraft sector. Pointing out that Naga people have inherent skills of art and crafts, Jamir called for capitalizing these strengths to create livelihood opportunities, especially for the poor. The current project under implementation was envisaged to tap into these inherent strengths of the handicraft sector with particular focus on Cane, Bamboo and Wood crafts, he said.
It will be done by modernizing the production process wherein productivity and quality of the products are enhanced; augmenting the traditional products and designs with new designs and modern products thereby expanding the value and the market chain, organizing the rural artisans and craftsmen as a strong production base and a cohesive marketing force promoted under cluster approach.
NTTC unveils ‘Smokeless Meat Dryer’
Providing some relief to concerns over health hazard caused by ‘smoke meat’ dried in the kitchen hearth, the Nagaland Tool Room & Training Centre (NTTC) today unveiled a ‘Smokeless Meat Dryer’ developed at the centre. It was formally inaugurated by Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Directorate of Industries and Commerce, N. Hushili Sema IAS at NTTC here today.
Designed and developed by Technology Incubation Cell, NTTC, the meat dryer is compact and portable in structure weighing 55 kilograms and standing 2.9 feet tall.
NTTC officials claimed that the dryer is hygienic and safe with no direct contact with hot flames or smoke. For drying 5-6 kilograms of meat, only 1 kg of firewood is required, they further maintained adding that charcoal can also be used as a fuel for the same.
Beside roasting and drying various food products, it can also be used for cooking and boiling water. Adding that it requires no maintenance cost and saves time and energy, officials at NTTC said that the product will be commercially available at nominal price once the production process is fully established.
A Govt of Nagaland Society, under Department of Industries & Commerce, NTTC was established in 2006 by the Govt of Nagaland with assistance from the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). The institute currently provides a 4 year specialized course - 'Diploma in Tool & Die Making” – bedsides other short-term training in the field of manufacture of machine components.
