Tribal Artisans Empanelment Mela in Kohima seeks to support Nagaland artisans through registration, quality assessment, market linkages and national exhibitions.
DIMAPUR — A Tribal Artisans Empanelment Mela (TAeM), organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, was held at the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Kohima, on Thursday.
Addressing the programme, Joint Director of Industries and Commerce, Hojeto K Suqhe, appreciated TRIFED for the initiative to recognise, support and improve the livelihoods of artisans in Nagaland.
He said the mela would not only provide a platform to showcase handicrafts but also help artisans understand market demand, a DIPR report stated.
Speaking on the collaboration between the PM Vishwakarma scheme and TRIFED, Suqhe said 2,000 artisans from Nagaland had been registered and trained in six trades under the scheme.
He said TAeM leverages programmes under the Ministry of MSME and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs by combining capacity building with market assessment.
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According to him, the initiative would help connect artisans with nationwide market channels, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and greater visibility for regional craftsmanship.
Suqhe urged artisans to make full use of the opportunity to expand their activities and strengthen their livelihoods.
He also encouraged them to access TRIFED’s commercial network to facilitate the direct sourcing of handicraft products from indigenous artisans.
He said the initiative aimed to identify and register artisans and establish direct market linkages, reducing dependence on middlemen and other intermediaries.
Senior Programme Executive, TRIFED, Asif Ekbal Hussain, said TRIFED has the mandate to support the livelihoods of tribal communities across the country through various schemes and marketing platforms.
He informed that the nodal government departments implementing TRIFED schemes under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in Nagaland include the Department of Forest, DUDA, MARCOFED and the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission.
Hussain said the Northeast region accounts for around 3,500 of the 5,000 artisans registered with TRIFED across India.
He said TRIFED provides artisans with a marketing platform by registering them and establishing direct linkages with the federation.
He explained that after registration, a sample of the artisan’s product is sent to a committee for quality assessment.
The committee also assesses the price and market demand before recommending the product for purchase.
Hussain advised artisans to adopt wholesale pricing rather than adding high retail margins, particularly when seeking bulk orders.
He said this would help them secure larger orders while promoting the region’s cultural heritage.
He also encouraged artisans to calculate their production costs accurately to ensure profitability and avoid losses during price negotiations.
Registered artisans, he added, may also get opportunities to participate in national exhibitions.
State Programme Management Unit, PM Vishwakarma, Suneptula Jamir chaired the programme and delivered the welcome address.