Textiles Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh on Tuesday inaugurated a two-week long ‘Strategic Design Intervention Workshop For New Product Development and Production Capability Enhancement for Manipur Crafts’ at Imphal.
The workshop, organised by the Mission for Economic Empowerment of Traditional Artisans and Craftsmen (MEETAC) will conclude on December 1.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, minister Biswajit highlighted the achievements of MEETAC, and expressed gratitude to former governor of Manipur Najma Heptulla for her vision and assistance in establishing MEETAC.
Stating that MEETAC has helped in preserving the dying traditional crafts and designs of Manipur, and in standardising these designs, Thongam Biswajit Singh asserted that it will further aid in developing the traditional crafts design.
This will also ensure enhancing the production capabilities and economic status of artisans and craftsmen, he said. Another big achievement of MEETAC is the preparation and launching of a Craft Map of Manipur and Coffee Table Book- Panorama of Handlooms and Handicrafts of Manipur, he remarked.
He continued that under MEETAC, surveys and training are conducted in all 16 districts of the state.
MEETAC would establish linkages for traditional crafts/arts of Manipur with national, international markets and e-markets, he added.
Today, he said, MEETAC has helped in exploring the hidden talents of our craftsmen and artisans. By the end of the Phase II of MEETAC, more than 160 Souvenir Proto-Types have been developed and more than 124 traditional artisans have been trained, he added.
He also suggested a repetition of Doll Making training for the artisans and craftsmen explaining further that dolls have a good market. He said the handloom and textiles is an important sector, playing a significant role in sustaining the livelihood of the people. (Dipr)
