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INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT SHILLONG

Forparticipation,registerhere

11:00-2:00 pm, 24th July 2020

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis presents e-Symposium on

Emergent North-East India:Strategic and Developmental Imperatives in

Handicrafts

Indiahasarichanddiverseculture,andthismanifestsinthewidevarietyofhandicraftscreated all over the country. It is vitalthat we safeguard this heritage, not onlyto make them accessible to current andfuture generations, but also because theyaid in employmentand incomegenerationin the country. Recent studies find thatthe handloom and handicraft sectors,combinedly, provide the second-largestsource of livelihood in the country, afteragriculture.Further,thesecraftsprovideanidentity for the artisans employed, aswellas represent the wealth of knowledge andskillsacquiredovercenturies.

Thenorth-eastregionofIndiaiswellknownforitscrafttraditionanduniqueproducts.The cultural heritage of the region isreflectedinitsarrayofhandicrafts-bambooand caneproducts,masks, jewellery,woodcarvings, textiles and earthenware, amongmanyothers.Theregionhasgreatpotentialto develop, not just as a self-sustaining

economicunitofIndia,butalsoasasuccessstory for thecountry.With itsabundantbio-multiplicity, the north-easternregionhasacomparativeadvantage,andthis advantage could be leverage uponto improve the handicrafts sector andalsoenhancethelivesof itspeople.It is,therefore, imperative to understand thechallengesandopportunitiesfacedbythehandicraftsectorinthenorth-eastregionsothatwecansystematicallyaddresstheconstraintsthataffectthedevelopmentofthesector.

The e-Symposium on the Handicraftssector will provide a global platformthat would bring together policymakers,scholars,institutions,corporatesandthecivil society, todiscussanddeliberateonthe developmental issues pertaining tothehandicraftssectorintheregion.

Handicrafts

Prologue

Unlocking the potential of the Handicrafts sector in transforming the North Eastern region

Handicrafts of the North-East Region

AssamAssamisrenownedforitsteaplantationsanditsdiversecultureofitsethniccommunities.Thesecommunitieshavehighlyartisticpeople,and they involve themselves in a varietyof crafts. The handicrafts produced in thestate encompass bamboo works, reed mats,terracottaart,brasswareandpottery.

MeghalayaMeghalayaisknownforitsvariousartandcrafts.Apart from cane and bamboo works, artistictextile weaving and wood carving are practicedhere.The state is the apex centre for pineapplecraftsinthecountry,whereinthefibrefromthePineappleleavesisusedformakingvarioustypesofnets,bagsandpurses.

SikkimSikkim is renowned for the hand-wovenwoolen carpets, with Sikkimese motifs.Othercraftsfoundinthestatearethangkapaintings, carpets, handlooms, woodencarved and painted items, wooden masks,cane and bamboo works, traditional hatsandcaps,embroideredproductsandstuffeddolls.

ManipurManipurisamosaicoftraditionsandculturalpractices. Of the numerous colourful craftsof Manipur, the major ones are the black-clay stone pottery, bell metal bowls, caneandbamboocraftsandmatsmadeofspongyreeds. Beautiful dolls and toys of straw andclayarealsomadeinManipur.

MizoramMizoramisthelandofanumberofcraftsmenand skilled artisans excelling in variouscrafts. The Mizo’s dexterity in wicker-workandbasketryiswellknown.Thetraditionallyskilledartisansmakebambooproductssuchasbaskets,utensils,hats,handcraftedfurnitureandflowervases.Othercraftsincludeweaving,jewellery,musicalinstruments,woodcarvingandpottery.

NagalandThe arts and crafts of Nagaland mainly includeweaving, basketry, woodwork and jewellery. TheNagapeoplepreparedifferentproductsusingshellsand beads, birds’ wings and flowers.They are alsoknownforpottery,whereintheymakeearthenpotsbyhand,withoutusingthewheel.Theyalsopreparewoodcarvings, generally associated with religiousbeliefsandpractices,apartfromcreatingobjectsfordailyuse,likeutensils.

TripuraThecraftsmenofTripuraarehighlyskilledincreating excellent handicrafts.The differentethnic groups of the state are perfect inbambooandcanework;theyproducebamboobaskets, fences and furniture.Amongothercrafts, artisans are involved in pottery andterracottaart.FewvillagesinTripuraarealsoknownfortheirpressedclaywork.

Arunachal PradeshArunachal Pradesh has a vibrant crafttradition, and every tribe excels at thecraftsmanship. The ambit of crafts includescarpetmaking,masks,paintedwoodvessels,bamboo and cane crafts, woodcarving, beadcraftandothermiscellaneouscrafts.Theyalsomakenumerousarticleswithgoathair,ivory,boartusks,beadsofagateandotherstones.

Handicrafts

Handicrafts Sector - Development Framework

The north-eastern region of India is home to a large numberof tribes and sub-tribes, who have a vigorous craft traditionandwhere every tribe excels in craftsmanship.This excellencemanifests itself in the array of handicraft products that areproduced by different communities.The handicrafts producedbytheregioniseco-friendly,andthereisaconsiderabledemandfor theseproducts globally. Further, the abundanceofnaturalrawmaterialsforhandicrafts,suchascane,bamboo,timber,silk,clay,andnaturalfibre,provideacomparativeadvantagetotheregion.

The central and state governments, across many years, havetakenmultiplestepstoinvigoratethehandicraftssectorintheregion;throughskilldevelopment,accesstofinance,improvingconnectivity,organisingtradefairs,ensuringtheavailabilityofrawmaterialandother initiatives.Amongthemanyeffortsbythe central government in the past decade, the setting up of‘BorderHaats’andthereclassificationofBambooisexpectedtohaveasignificantimpactonthesectorinthenorth-eastregion.The‘BorderHaats’alongtheinternationalbordersoftheregioncould greatly improve cross-border trade with neighbouringcountries,giventhatthenortheastregionsharesborderswithsix countries. Currently, four ‘haats’ are operational in theregion,andmanymoreareexpectedtobeinoperationshortly.TheexclusionofBamboofromthedefinitionofatree,undertheIndian Forest Act, would also significantly enable this sector.The reclassification permits felling and transit of bamboo innon-forestareasandwill increase itsavailability tocraftsmen,

improving raw material availability. Regional institutionsalso play their part in improving the sector. The NorthEastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi)actsasanenabler intheregionbyprovidingmicrofinance,training and entrepreneurial assistance to handicraftartisans. In the recent past, the institute, along with theNorthEasternCouncil(NEC),hadeventakeninitiativestopopularisetheuseofWaterHyacinthformakinghandicraftproducts.Thus, an invasive weed is now being effectivelyutilised to make eco-friendly products, thereby improvingthelivesoftheruralcommunities.

However,theregionisyettoattainitsfullpotentialintheHandicraftssector.AccordingtothelateststatisticsavailablefromtheExportPromotionCouncilofHandicrafts(EPCH),the handicraft exports from the north-eastern regionaccountedonlyfor5percentofthetotalhandicraftexportsfromthecountryduring2018-19.Thelowshareofhandicraftexports from the region calls for scaling up the sector inthe region so that they improve employment and revenuegenerated. This can be possibly achieved by coordinatedactionbetweenthegovernmentandallstakeholdersinthefourkeyareas–welfarepolicyinitiatives,capacitybuilding,product development and by improving infrastructure.The region has immense potential for the development ofhandicrafts,andifitachieveslargercapacityandscale,thesector is indeed capable of giving the north-east region aglobalidentity.

Role of IIM Shillong in the development of the North Eastern region of India

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis, IIM ShillongThe ‘Dr.APJAbdulKalamCentre forPolicyResearchandAnalysis’ isenvisionedasanembodimentof thephilosophyof the latePresidentDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam.TheCentreisanoutcomeofatripartiteagreementbetweentheIndianInstituteofManagement,ShillongandMinistryofDevelopmentofNorthEasternRegion (MDoNER)andtheNorthEasternCouncil (NEC), signedonthe15thofOctober2016.TheCentreaimstoemergeasastate-of-the-artresourcecentretohelpthestatesofnorth-eastIndia,andtheimplementingagencies,toplanandexecuteprojects,promoteinnovationsandtofunctionasarepositoryofbestpracticesintheregion,especiallyindevelopmentplanning.TheCentreundertakesresearchprojectsandalsocollaborateswithotherspecializedagenciesandinstitutionstocreatesynergy.

IndianInstituteofManagement(IIM)Shillong,whichcommencedoperationsin2008,remainscommittedtoitsgoalofexcellenceinmanagementeducationandresearch.Besideshigh-qualitystandardsandacademicrigour,theinstitutealsoemphasizessustainabledevelopmentandbusinesspractises.

Locatedinthenorth-easternpartofthecountry,andbeingtheonlyIIMintheregioncomprisingeightstates,theresponsibilitiesof the institute aremultifold. In addition to its primary job of disseminatingmanagement education, the institute alsohas thetaskofdevelopingthenorth-eastregionofthecountry.Inlinewiththiscommitment,theinstitutehadestablishedthe‘CentrefortheDevelopmentoftheNorthEasternRegion(CeDNER)’in2008,theveryyeartheinstitutewasborn.Theinstitutecontinuestocontributetothenorth-easternregion,andinthispursuit,hasalsosetupthe‘Dr.APJAbdulKalamCentreforPolicyResearchandAnalysis’intheyear2016.

Time Event

12:20 – 12:25 PMIntroductionofDr.APJAbdulKalamCentreforPolicyResearchandAnalysis

Prof. Keya Sengupta, Centre Coordinator

12:25 – 01:40 PM

KeynoteSpeaker:

Shri. Santanu Sutradhar, Founder, Disha Enterprises, Assam

Shri. Sonam Tyashi Gyaltsen, Founder & Product Designer, LA, Sikkim

Shri. Ashim Kumar Das, Head (CSR), North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) Shri. Sukumar Haobam, Designer and Coordinator, Bamboo Forum of India, Manipur

Shri. Pravir Krishna, IAS, MD, Tribal Co-Operative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED)

SessionModerator:

Shri. Atul Kulkarni, Board Member, IIM Shillong

01:40 – 01:55PM

ValedictoryAddress

Shri. Imnatiba, MLA & Advisor for Industries and Commerce, Labour, Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of Nagaland

01:55– 02.00 PMVoteofThanks

Prof. Chacko Jacob, Sectoral Coordinator: Handicrafts

Technical Session

Session PlanIIM Shillong e-Symposia Series

10:30 am - 12:20 pm, 24th July, 2020

Session: 12:20 -2:00 pm“Creating sustainable livelihoods”

Time Event

10:30 – 10:55 AM Registration

11:00 – 11:05 AMe-SymposiumInitiation

(Sectoral Coordinator, Dr. APJ Kalam Centre of Policy Research and Analysis, IIM Shillong)

11:05 – 11:15 AMWelcomeAddress

Shri. Shishir BajoriaChairman, Board of Governors, IIM Shillong

11:15 – 11:30 AMShri. Sharda GautamHead of Crafts, Tata Trusts

11:30 – 11:45 AMShri. Sohan Kumar JhaSenior Director, National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy,Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts)

11:45 – 12:15 PM ChiefGuest:

Shri. Arjun MundaHon’ble Minister of Tribal Affairs, Government of India

12:15 – 12:17 PMVoteofThanks Prof. D.P. GoyalDirector, IIM Shillong

Emergent North-East India: Strategic and Developmental Imperatives in Handicrafts

Expected outcome of the IIM Shillong e-Symposia Series

Theexpectedoutcomeofthee-symposiumistocontributetotheknowledgebodyandaidinpublishingaseriesofreportsonthecurrentstatus,challengesandopportunitiesinthesector.Discussions,deliberationsandcreativeengagementsduringthee-symposiumwouldhelpthestatesofnorth-eastIndia,andtheirimplementingagencies,obtainideaswhichcanfurtherimprovetheplanningandexecutionofprojectsandaidinprovidinginnovativesolutionstotheproblemsfacedintheHandicraftsector.

Organising Committee• Prof.(Dr.) Keya Sengupta, Centre Coordinator,

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis

• Dr. Atul Mehta, Handicrafts Sector Coordinator

• Dr. Chacko Jacob, Handicrafts Sector Coordinator

• Dr. Bhaskar Kumar Kakati, Centre Manager

• Ms. Boishali Gogoi, Research Assistant

Registration Participants Theeventaimstoinvolveallthestakeholdersin the Handicrafts sector. They includerepresentatives of states, representativesfromtheMinistryofDevelopmentofNorthEasternRegion (MDoNER) and theNorthEasternCouncil(NEC),representativesfromtheIndustry,expertsonIndianhandicrafts,academicians,andallthestakeholdersfromvarious related institutions that are activeinthenorth-eastregion.

Forparticipation,registerhere

11:00-2:00 pm, 24th July 2020

Indian Institute of Management Shillong

MayurbhanjComplex,

Nongthymmai,Shillong–793014

Phone:+91364–2308145/8000,+91-8131983051Email-id:apjcentre@iimshillong.ac.in

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