ZIRO, 2 May: The maiden Tribal Artisan Mela (TAM) was organised at the Abotani Hall here in Lower Subansiri district on Monday.
The mela was organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), and supported by the Arunachal Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM) and the district mission management unit. Members of the Northeast Handicraft & Handloom Development Corporation (NHHDC) were also part of the empanelment team, being a partner of the TRIFED.
The TAM was conducted under the scheme named ‘Marketing and logistics development for promoting tribal artisan products from northeastern region’ to strengthen the livelihood opportunities of the tribal artisans of the Northeast.
The primary purpose of the TAM is to highlight the creative tribal arts and artifacts to facilitate national exposure for potential businesses, and to enrich the livelihoods of tribal artisans.
Samples brought to the mela were evaluated by a team of experts from the TRIFED and cooperating agencies, including the ArSRLM and the NHHDC, for quality, craftsmanship, pricing, sale potential and empanelment of artisans by the TRIFED for bulk supplies of their products at reasonable assured rates.
The experts guided the artisans with tips on how to improve the quality, design and input materials, and on the kind of training to be imparted to artisans to make their products marketable at national and international markets at remunerative prices.
Declaring the mela open, Lower Subansiri DC Bamin Nime urged the organisers to “coincide the next TAM with a significant day where large gathering of people take place, like the Ziro Festival of Music, Statehood Day, Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations.”
“There is a huge demand for tribal products, especially by foreigners and other visitors to Ziro, and such mela, which has tremendous potential for sale of tribal products, should be organised during such a day where significant public gathering takes place,” he opined.
TRIFED Deputy Managers Himanshu Bahl and Sumana Saha, NEHHDC Product Design Manager Neetu Gogoi, and Lower Subansiri District ArSRLM Project Manager Senong Namchoom also offered tips and inputs to the artisans.
Thirty-five tribal artisans, including individual artisans and SHG members, from Ziro, Sagalee, Yazali, Yachuli, Pistana and Upper Yachuli circles participated in the TAM with their products. Of them, 20 artisans were empanelled and 15 were selected to undergo further training. (DIPRO)
