TRIFED holds Tribal Artisans Empanelment Mela (TAeM)
REGIONAL: A Tribal Artisans Empanelment Mela (TAeM) was organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, India, Thursday, at the Directorate of Industries and Commerce in Kohima. The event aimed to recognise, support and uplift the artisans by showcasing their handicrafts and helping them understand market demands.
Hojeto K Suqhe, Joint Director of Industries and Commerce, underlined the significance of the PM Vishwakarma scheme, which supports traditional craftspeople. He noted that 2,000 artisans from Nagaland have been registered and trained in six disciplines.
The TAeM programme leverages core trade initiatives from the Ministry of MSME and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, focusing on combining capacity building with market demand to ensure sustainable livelihoods and increased visibility for regional craftsmanship.
Suqhe encouraged artisans to engage actively in the programme urging them to take advantage of opportunities to expand their activities for sustainable living. He also highlighted the importance of connecting artisans with TRIFED's commercial network to facilitate direct sourcing of handicraft products, eliminating middlemen and market constraints.
Asif Ekbal Hussain, Senior Programme Executive at TRIFED, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to providing livelihoods to tribal communities across India through various schemes and marketing platforms. He mentioned that the Northeast region is home to about 3,500 of the 5,000 artisans in India, with TRIFED providing them a platform for direct engagement. He explained the registration process, which includes submitting a sample of the product for quality checks, price assessments, and demand evaluations.
The programme was chaired by Suneptula Jamir from the State Programme Management Unit of PM Vishwakarma, who also delivered the welcome address. Overall, the TAeM represents a significant effort to enhance the economic conditions of tribal artisans by fostering direct connections to markets and promoting their crafts effectively.