Shillong, November 9: The Minister of Health and Family Welfare etc, Smti. Roshan Warjri today gave away the State Award for Handicraft Artisans for the year 2016-2017 and Certificates to the participants of the Skill Development Training Programme on Packaging to Unemployed Youth and Entrepreneurs in a function organised by the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, at the Industrial Training Centre, Lower Nongrim Hills, Shillong.
Speaking on the occasion, Smti. Roshan Warjri while congratulating the State Awardees for Handicraft Artisans said that it was high time for the youth of the State to train in different skills as government jobs are getting scarce. Stating that the State Award has been instituted by the Government to give incentive and create awareness on different sources of livelihood, she said that there is no dearth of opportunities and resources in the State, it only depends on how we use them.
Speaking to the participants of the Skill Development Training Programme on Packaging, Smti. Warjri said that the handloom and other products of the State were in high demand due to the quality of craftsmanship and thus stressed on the importance of packaging and marketing for entrepreneurs to move ahead for better and sustainable livelihood.
Additional Chief Secretary, Mr P. W. Ingty in his address informed that the State Award for Handicraft Artisans was constituted by the Government two years ago to give due recognition to traditional artisans , skilled in traditional crafts. He hoped that the award and exposure given to the artisans at the national level would help boost production capacity and added that exposure and marketing are key to the growth of such artisans.
It may be mentioned that the one month Skill Development Training Programme was conducted by the Indian Institute of Packaging, Kolkatta. Altogether 5 handicraft artisans and 128 participants were facilitated on the day. While the State Awardees for Handicraft Artisans received a cash award of Rs.50,000/-, a trophy and a certificate, the participants of the Skill Development Training Programme were conferred with a certificate for their participation.
