NEPED Team Members at the ongoing Thematic Exhibition at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima on June 18. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | June 18
Bringing together 21 artisans from the states of Nagaland and Assam, a seven-day Thematic Exhibition, sponsored by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India is underway at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima. The Exhibition was formally inaugurated by Kevechutso Doulo, Chairman, Nagaland Empowerment of People through Energy Development (NEPED) on Friday afternoon and will go on till June 23.
A total of 16 artisans from Nagaland and five from Assam, registered under the Ministry of Textiles are participating in the exhibition featuring several categories of products including cane & bamboo, wood crafts, tribal textiles, embroidery crafts, jewellery & beads work, jute crafts, etc.
Speaking to The Morung Express, Takum Chang, Member POU (Project Operations Unit), NEPED said NEPED has been looking into capacity building and exposure of artisans while also creating avenues to sell their products. He highlighted that over the years, NEPED has initiated various projects in the area of environment, energy sector, growing of cash crops, micro financing, which are all related to economic development for the sole purpose of empowering people especially in the rural areas.
Emphasising that these are all rural economy, he asserted on the need to enhance the capability of people. While the on-going Thematic Exhibition is a first of its kind being held and organised by NEPED under the Ministry of Textiles, he highlighted that the artisans are ‘producer companies’ bringing out different handicrafts. These products are not only for display but also for sale.
72-year-old Punalemla from Mongchem village under Mokokchung district is also among the artisans participating in the exhibition. Having learnt the art of weaving from her elder sister during the late 1960s as a young school girl, she has been pursuing it with vigour for the last several decades.
A mother to 7 children, she related that “there are times, my children tell me I should stop doing this, and rest…” But clearly, she is passionate about the skill she has picked up as a young girl. Sitting in her stall at the Thematic Exhibition, she is busy giving finishing touches to an Ao traditional waistcoat.
Punalemla has been part of several such exhibitions in the past and has also travelled to several states across India to exhibit the works of her hands.
