(Under Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialization (Mgiri), Wardha Rural Craft and Engineering Division (Rc&E) ) concluded today
The One year project “Scheme on Studies for Promotion & Strengthening of Black Pottery at Tyrshang and Larnai village, West Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya” funded by Department of Commerce and Industries (DCI) Shillong, Government of Meghalaya and implementing by Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization (MGIRI) Wardha, Maharashtra, a R&D institute under the ministry of MSME, Government of India concluded today.
The duration of this project was for 1 year. MGIRI has designed this project in two phases. Phase- I is the study of the black pottery artisans and based on the study they have designed Phase-II activities like capacity building and awareness activities for sustainability of this cluster.
A formal closing ceremony for the project was held at Larnai Community Hall attended by Shri. M.L Wanshong, Joint Director DCI, Shillong, Shri. B. Warjri, General Manager, DCIC, Dr. K Venkata Rao, Dy Director MGIRI, Smt. S Kharpran, Functional Manager, DCIC, Jowai, Larnai Village Chairman Shri. Kyrmenlang Pyrtuh and the artisans were present for the closing programme.
During the concluding programme Dr. K Venkata Rao, Dy Director MGIRI, Wardha expressed his best wishes to the artisans and emphasizes the importance of maintaining the skills and experiences they gained during the year long training. He commended their dedication throughout the project and making it a successful one.
Shri. M.L Wanshong, Joint Director DCI, Shillong expressed appreciation towards the project Team for their dedicated efforts in providing training programmes to the artisans which includes an exposure trip to Siliguri and to Varanasi that has helped them to upgrade their skills. He emphasizes that the project has served as a platform for nurturing and enhancing the skills of the artisans. He assured the artisans that the Department of Commerce and industries will continue to support them.
The Artisans thanked Dr. K Venkata Rao, Dy. Director MGIRI and his team and also the department of commerce and Industries for the invaluable opportunity given to them. They expressed that the yearlong training had not only improved their skills but also expanded their horizons through the exposure trip to different locations. They also express that the training has brought positive changes not only on an individual but to the community as a whole. It may be mentioned that the main objective of this project was to make traditional industries more competitive with more market driven, productive, profitable and self-sustained employment for traditional industry, artisans and rural entrepreneurs, to strengthen the local governance systems of industry, to build up innovated and traditional skills, improved technologies, advanced processes of market intelligence and new models, empowering the traditional black pottery craftsmen to upgrade their skills and production methods, creating awareness of market avenues to market their products.
