Kohima: Two thousand artisans in Nagaland are now registered and trained under the PM Vishwakarma scheme. The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd held a Tribal Artisans Empanelment Mela at the Directorate of Industries and Commerce in Kohima on August 27. The event aimed to bridge the gap between regional craftsmanship and nationwide market demand.
Hojeto K Suqhe, Joint Director of Industries and Commerce, touted the collaboration between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the MSME ministry. The program offers capacity building to secure sustainable livelihoods. Suqhe told the crowd: "TRIFED's initiative to recognise and support tribal artisans in Nagaland by showcasing their handicrafts and helping them understand market demand" remains a top priority. He pushed local makers to bypass middlemen by utilizing TRIFED’s commercial network.
Asif Ekbal Hussain, a Senior Programme Executive at TRIFED, noted the Northeast accounts for 3,500 of the 5,000 artisans registered nationwide. The Department of Forest, DUDA, MARCOFED, and the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission serve as the nodal agencies in the state. Hussain explained that products face a rigorous screening process involving quality checks and price assessments before reaching the market. He warned makers to focus on wholesale pricing and precise cost calculations to ensure they stay profitable. Suneptula Jamir of the PM Vishwakarma State Programme Management Unit chaired the session.
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