Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, August 10 (EMN): Under the auspices of Development Commissioner of Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, a Weavers Service Centre (WSC) was inaugurated at Luyong, Tuli, on August 9 by Parliamentary Secretary of Industries & Commerce, NIDC, Amenba Yaden, as the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Amenba said the WSC is one of the gamuts of entrepreneurial infrastructure that the Department of Industries & Commerce envisages to set up to promote economic activities in the area. He informed that a common ‘Facility Centre’ will be added to the existing centre at a later stage.
Amenba said the greatest challenge confronting the Naga society today is unemployment. As the job opportunities in the government sectors have reached a saturation point, Amenba said it has become imperative for the State government to provide avenues for the local youth for self employment. He said the service centre is one of the initiatives of the government to meet with the need.
Lamenting on the failure to revive Nagaland Pulp & Paper Company, a subsidiary of the Hindustan Paper Corporation, which is a Government of India undertaking, Amenba said the revival of the unit remains a distant dream. He remarked, “We have bitten more than we could chew” as far as establishment of the paper mill is concern. He also opined that the topography as well as socio-cultural scenario do not permit establishment of mega project.
“The local entrepreneurs should rather strive towards setting up of medium and micro enterprises which are manageable and also environmental friendly,” Amenba suggested.
In order to usher in economic revolution in an entrepreneurship friendly region such as Tuli, he said human resource development is most crucial. He added that the present service centre, which is very modest in scale and nature, is one such initiative toward achieving skill development in the State.
Delivering a brief account of the Weavers Service Centre, K Hokishe Assumi, Managing Director of Nagaland Handloom & Handicraft Development Corporation and Additional Director of Industries & Commerce, said the service centre is the first of a series of such centre that the Central government has sanctioned for the State. He said the centre will be focusing on imparting training to the local artisans mainly on three disciplines- designing, dying and weaving.
Apart from imparting training through experienced master trainers, he said the centre will also facilitate guaranteed marketing of the produce manufactured by the trained artisans. He stated that the passed out trainees will be provided with tools and equipments costing Rs 27000 which will be made available to them at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 1300 per unit.
The project sanctioned by the Central government could be completed in record time through the proactive participation of village council of Luyong, other civic bodies and individuals. The land for establishment of the centre was donated by Lipokmar Tzudir, a native of Luyong village and former Director of NEZCC, while the construction of the structures was done through voluntary labour of the local youth association.
The occasion was also marked by distribution of training kits to the trainees by Subramaniam, Deputy Director WCS, Government of India.
