Nagaland legislators attend interactive session on UNNATI 2024 Scheme and PM Vishwakarma in Kohima.
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Legislators briefed on UNNATI 2024 and PM Vishwakarma schemes
DIMAPUR — An interactive session with legislators on the UNNATI 2024 Scheme and PM Vishwakarma was organised by the Department of Industries & Commerce on Tuesday at the conference hall of the Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Kohima.
Addressing the programme, Advisor for Industries & Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu said the department has a long-term vision for the economic growth of Nagaland, according to a DIPR report.
She stressed that strengthening the local economy and generating employment opportunities in the state would largely depend on the growth of MSMEs and the business community. Jakhalu said that if MSMEs were properly established, “70 to 80 per cent of the struggles are already won.”
Emphasising the role of legislators, she said it was their responsibility to create awareness among the public about alternative opportunities and government schemes available for them.
Speaking on the RAMP (Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance) scheme, a World Bank-assisted central sector programme under the Ministry of MSME, Jakhalu said officials had travelled across the state to spread awareness about the initiative. She urged legislators to ensure that people in every constituency were informed so that genuine beneficiaries could avail the scheme.
Jakhalu informed that 750 high-potential MSMEs would be mentored under the initiative and appealed to legislators to identify and recommend genuine entrepreneurs who could become role models in their constituencies.
She also highlighted the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, stating that the food processing sector was rapidly expanding in Nagaland. Appreciating the efforts of NSRLM and the growth of SHGs across the state, she encouraged grassroots weavers and artisans to take advantage of government schemes.
Jakhalu described handloom, handicrafts and food processing as important sectors for the state’s economic development.
She further urged women engaged in handloom activities to submit names of genuine weavers for Individual Weaver’s Sheds, stating that proper sheds were essential for skill upgrade, communication and enabling authentic weavers to access government assistance.
In his welcome address, Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Kumar Ramnikant said the schemes reflected a shared vision of self-reliance through entrepreneurship and skill development.
He stated that UNNATI was emerging as a catalyst for entrepreneurship in the Northeast and informed that there were currently 55 units in Nagaland under the scheme. According to him, the initiative had the potential to create opportunities for artisans by scaling up traditional crafts, establishing market linkages and promoting rural tourism through micro-level tourism activities.
Ramnikant also informed that six traditional trades had been identified for training programmes in Nagaland and said that, as of May 25, 2026, a total of 1,939 artisans had been trained under PM Vishwakarma.
Director, Industries & Commerce, P Tokugha Sema said awareness on UNNATI had already been disseminated across all districts of the state.
He appealed to legislators to help identify genuine and capable entrepreneurs from their constituencies who could benefit from the scheme and contribute to local economic development.
Delivering the closing remarks, Additional Director, Industries & Commerce, Lipongse Thongtsar said the department was actively reaching out to constituencies at the village level.
Altogether, 12 legislators attended the programme.
During the session, a presentation on the UNNATI 2024 scheme highlighted that the programme was launched to strengthen the industrial ecosystem in the Northeast and attract fresh investments.
The presentation also outlined incentives such as capital investment support, capital interest subvention and manufacturing and service-linked incentives. Focus sectors under the scheme include tourism and hospitality, healthcare, biotechnology, EV charging stations, IT-enabled services, ropeways and technology-oriented startups.
Meanwhile, the PM Vishwakarma Team Nagaland highlighted the scheme’s role in supporting traditional artisans and craftspeople through training, financial assistance and market linkage support.
Active trades in Nagaland under the scheme include basket weaving, tailoring, carpentry, masonry, barbering, and doll and toy making.
The team informed that beneficiaries receive PM Vishwakarma certificates and ID cards, toolkits worth INR 15,000, collateral-free loans of up to INR 3 lakh at 5 per cent interest, and digital market linkage support.
As of March 31, 2026, a total of 1,884 artisans in Nagaland had been trained and assessed under the scheme, while loans amounting to INR 3.91 crore and 773 toolkits had been disbursed.
The team also highlighted the objectives and benefits of the PMFME scheme launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, which aims to strengthen and promote micro food processing units through financial assistance, branding, marketing, training, technical guidance, packaging, quality control and market linkage support.