Officials along with the participants during the training held at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Zunheboto on August 13. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Zunheboto | August 13
A PM Vishwakarma Awareness Workshop focusing on branding, packaging, and digital marketing was held at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Zunheboto on Thursday, even as beneficiaries raised serious concerns over bank officials allegedly demanding guarantors for collateral-free loans.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and Facilitation Office (MSME DFO), Dimapur, in collaboration with the District Industries Centre (DIC), Zunheboto.
During the technical session on "Packaging," Kumzutoli K. Hesso, founder of KK Hesso and Chapter Head (Zunheboto) for the Women Entrepreneurs Network Nagaland (WENN), emphasized that consumers often judge products by visual appeal. Urging entrepreneurs to move beyond treating packaging as a mere outer cover, she stressed that unique design, presentation, and community-specific color palettes form a vital component of product identity and marketing.
Speaking on the "Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Branding & Marketing," Suneptula S. Jamir from the State Programme Management Unit (PM Vishwakarma) demonstrated how AI tools like ChatGPT can simplify branding workflows for local artisans, assisting in visual presentation, color choices, and promotional copy.
Addressing "Export Readiness," Kezhaletuo Khruomo, Functional Manager at DIC Zunheboto, urged local entrepreneurs to elevate product quality and design to meet wider market standards. Pointing to logistics and shipping requirements, Khruomo encouraged artisans to leverage major platforms such as the annual Hornbill Festival and expand their market reach beyond Nagaland.
In the "Financial Literacy" session, Hovire Kennao, Financial Analyst with the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) program, advised entrepreneurs to outline clear business plans and analyze target demographics before scaling. He detailed the survival, stability, and growth phases of business development, outlining market expansion and product diversification strategies.
The workshop also included technical sessions on e-commerce onboarding and QR code generation for digital payments.
Beneficiaries question SBI over guarantor demand
During the interactive session, PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries raised strong objections against the State Bank of India (SBI), Zunheboto branch, over an alleged requirement demanding a guarantor to process loans under the scheme.
The beneficiaries expressed frustration over the demand, highlighting that the central scheme explicitly provides for collateral-free and guarantor-free credit support. Some artisans stated that bank officials had compelled them to arrange guarantors before disbursing the first loan installment.
Beneficiaries also raised complaints regarding operational delays in loan sanctions and disbursements, reporting that many had not received calls from the bank despite completing mandatory training, while others faced delays in receiving the second loan installment after repaying the first.
Responding to the grievances, J M Soren, Lead District Manager (LDM), Zunheboto, instructed the aggrieved beneficiaries to submit a formal written complaint.
Soren assured the gathering that the matter would be investigated and placed on the agenda for discussion during the upcoming District Level Consultative Committee (DLCC) meeting scheduled for August 20. He urged artisans to formally report any procedural irregularities faced at financial institutions so that administrative action could be taken.
