Development of bamboo, cane and wood-based handicraft clusters

[caption id="attachment_176017" align="alignleft" width="300"] Representational image[/caption] Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, April 12 (EMN): The annual administrative report (2017-2018) of the department of Industries and Commerce maintained that the total budget outlay during 2017-2018 was INR 6711.09 lakh which includes INR 1131 lakh for plan and INR 5580.09 lakh for non-plan. The breakup of the budget, as maintained in the department's 40-paged annual report, was INR 1131 lakh for plan (Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Public Sector Undertakings and others), INR 5580.09 lakh for non-plan which includes INR 3626.72 lakh for salary and wages, INR 298.97 lakh for administration expenses and INR 1654.40 lakh for PSU. "The department of Industries and Commerce is endeavouring to promote industrialisation in the state through various industrial and commercial activities including hospitality and business service in the state. The task of the department is however a difficult one. The remoteness of the state along with poor industrial infrastructure like road linkages, electricity was the major problems. The second is the special land laws that restrict the transfer of land to non-locals." The department has so far created the following infrastructure in order to facilitate the industrial growth in the state: Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) at Ganeshnagar Dimapur; export promotion industrial park which is now being upgraded to product specific Special Economic Zone (SEZ),;Nagaland Tool Room and Training Centre (NTTC) Dimapur aimed with human resource deployment in the industrial sector; Industrial Infrastructure Development Centre (IIDC) at Kiruphema; and four Industrial Estates (ID) Mokokchung, Mon, Peren and Dimapur during current plan period. Development of bamboo, cane and wood-based handicraft clusters Total project cost is INR 6.59 cr. and fund released during 2017-18 as 1st instalment is INR 1.46 cr. states the report. The project is being implemented to create strong production base at the cluster level by creating physical infrastructure, providing skill training base on the market need outside the state and skill set available within the community at the identified locations in the state and provide market linkage so that the artisans will get a better livelihood and income. Clusters identified for implementation under the project is are: Pfutsero in Phek district; Lungwa in Mon district, Ghathashi in Zunheboto district; Jalukie in Peren district; Longleng in Longleng district; and Tuli in Mokokchung district. The project interventions are skill-mapping and base-line study, skill training and upgrade, promoting social enterprises, common facility centres at cluster level, market promotion activities and upgrade programme of Nagaland Tool Room and Training Centre (NTTC). The Ministry of MSME government of India in collaboration with the state government has agreed to upgrade the NTTC with the main objective to provide a platform to develop the manufacturing sector in the state. The upgraded tool room shall be installed with state-of-the-art machinery and equipment having precision computer aided design and manufacturing facilities, advanced Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, presses and plastic processing machines to name a few which can provide a wider platform for the north eastern region in particular and the country in general to train thousands of youth for the huge job demands in both national and international markets. Till date around 90% of construction of building has been completed and the funds are awaited for procurement of machineries and equipments. Khadi Plaza The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)  has agreed in principle for establishment of a Khadi Plaza (Haat) in Dimapur where the expenditure will be met by the KVIC  and the state government on the basis of 90:10 ratios in a phased manner, notes the report. The state government has released its share of 10% of the total project cost as seed money for establishment of Khadi Plaza in Dimapur. The KVIC has sanctioned INR 5.56 cr. for the 1st phase which has been escalated to INR 6.18 cr. including state share that has been sanctioned and released by KVIC in the year 2016. The board has released running bill amounting to INR 5.054 cr to the contractors. Handloom and Handicrafts The report for NHHDC production, Marketing and promotional activities for the period of March 2017 to February 2018 stated production of handlooms and handicraft activities as the prime objective, the corporation has invested an amount of INR 10.30 lakh for procurement of raw materials for production at its weaving production centre, dyeing centre and craft development centre and the total value of production from the above centres amounting to INR 15.10 lakh. There are about INR 6.80 lakh value of raw materials unused in the store, the report stated. Finished products of the corporation as well as those production units within the states are marketed through sales outlet of the corporation within and outside the state. The corporation has invested an amount of INR 40.60 lakh for procurement of handloom and handicrafts finished products from the registered production units and has achieve a total sales amounting to INR 39.10 lakh during the financial year 2017-2018 (till Feb. 2018) and the value of INR 1.28 cr. still in stock at the emporiums.