Digital platforms launched in NER and Centre to connect to artisans and weavers

The Union Minister for Home Affairs and Co-operation Amit Shah, who was on a three-day visit to the Northeast has launched the North Eastern Handicraft & Handloom Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDC) Mobile Application which is dedicated to the artisans and weavers of North East India.

The mobile application was launched in Guwahati on October 9.

Through this mobile application, NEHHDC can register its artisans and weavers online, by collecting authentic data. It will provide training through specially designed online courses & help them with redress grievances. The app will apprise them on important Government schemes, initiatives & upcoming events.

The NEHHDC, incorporated in 1977, is an organisation which promotes indigenous crafts of the region by connecting craftsmen to prospective markets and consumers and generating economic, cultural and social opportunities for creators while adding cultural value for consumers.

The corporation is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern region (DoNER), Government of India.

The organisation procures handicrafts and handlooms from artisans and weavers across the region and retails the same through its chain of "Purbashree" Emporia located at Shillong, Guwahati, Kolkata, New Delhi, Bangalore and a Sales Promotion Office at Chennai.

The corporation promotes the products at various national and international markets through exhibitions and trade fairs.

A total of 5594 weavers and artisans are registered under NEHHDC across the North-eastern region.

It also carries out a census and mapping exercise to determine the presence of craft’s and craft’s people across the region, along with their skills, issuing photo Identity card to weavers and artisans.

Meanwhie the Office of the Development Commissioner (handicrafts) has initiated the process of inviting applications to participate in the marketing events through online portal. This provides fully digitized marketing platform to handicraft artisans.

Around 200 domestic marketing events are organised annually in different parts of the country with an aim to support the artisans in selling their produce. The online process starting from application to selection and finally stall allotment is completely computerised, without any human interface.

The online process will provide equal, fair and transparent opportunity to all artisans. Broad guidelines on submission of application has been circulated to all concerned with a purpose to educate the artisans (the same is also available on official website).

The office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has launched Indian handicraft portal (http://indian.handicrafts.gov.in) through which all the eligible artisans can apply online for marketing events. The artisan may login with pehchan card number, followed by authentication with One Time Password (OTP) sent on the registered mobile number. The process of receipt of application, selection and allotment for all the marketing events including Dilli Haat shall be made through this portal only.

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