Lok Sabha Question No. 556 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Tribal Research Institute
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Indra Hang Subba

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-556

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 06/02/2023

## TRIBAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

## 556. SHRI INDRA HANG SUBBA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the fund allocated during the last five years to Sikkim under the Tribal Research Institute (TRI);
- (b) the details of training undertaken by TRI in Sikkim during the last five years; and
- (c) the initiatives taken by the Government to promote the indigenous craft and textile industry in the North Eastern States, particularly in Sikkim?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT. RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

(a): Ministry of Tribal Affairs through Centrally Sponsored scheme 'Support of Tribal Research Institutes  (TRIs)'  is  providing  financial  assistance  to  States  /  UTs  for  various  activities  to  be undertaken  by  State  Tribal  Research  Institutes  including  execution  research  programmes.  The basic  objective  of  the  scheme  is  to  strengthen  the  Tribal  Research  Institutes  (TRIs)  and  their infrastructural  needs,  research  &  documentation  activities  and  training  and  capacity  building programmes etc. Ministry of Tribal Affairs is funding 27 Tribal Research Institutes in 25 States and  2  UTs  under  the  said   scheme.  Details  of  funds  released  to  State  Government  of  Sikkim during last five years under Support to TRIs are at Annexure-I.

(b) & (c): (i) Initiatives of MoTA and TRIFED:State TRIs take up training in their states. Details of  training  undertaken  by  TRI  in  Sikkim  are  at Annexure-II .  The  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs provides  funds  through  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Janjatiya  Vikas  Mission  to  Tribal  Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) for providing marketing support to tribal gatherers and artisans through procurement of tribal products and produce and facilitating sale through  retail  outlets  as  well  as  different  e-commerce  platforms;  by  organising  exhibitions, melas,  mahotsavs,  supplier  meets,  etc.  TRIFED  has  empanelled  tribal  products  suppliers comprising  of  individual  tribal  artisans,  tribal  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs),  Organisations  / Agencies / NGOs working with tribals etc. to accelerate growth of the tribal craft and products. Tribesindia.com is the e-commerce portal through which TRIFED promotes and sells products made  by  the  tribals  of  India,  through  its  14  regional  offices.  In  addition  to  this,  TRIFED Regional Offices have accounts with the leading 3rd party marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal  etc.   These  activities  are  undertaken  all  over  the  country,  including  in  Sikkim.  The scheme  of  Marketing  and  Logistics  Development  for  Promoting  Tribal  Products  from  NorthEastern  Region  has  been  approved  during  2021-22  which  aims  to  strengthen  livelihood opportunities  for  tribal  artisans  through  increased  efficiency  in  procurement,  logistics  and marketing of tribal products. The scheme has been specifically designed for the North Eastern Region including Sikkim.

(ii) The initiatives taken by M/o Development of North Eastern Region are at Annexure -III .

(iii) The Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms, Government of Sikkim in order to promote indigenous crafts has established Branch Training Centres in respect of various Arts and Crafts for local youth in all the six districts of Sikkim. There are Sales Emporium at Gangtok and New Delhi  and  smaller  outlets  in  various  locations  within  the  state  for  display  and  sale  of  our Handicrafts and Handloom products.

Annex referred to in reply to part (a) of the  Lok Sabha Unstarred  Question No.556 for answer on 06.02.2023.

Details of funds released under the scheme 'Support to TRIs'

(Rs. in Lakh)

|        | State   | Fund Released   | Fund Released   | Fund Released   | Fund Released   | Fund Released   |
|--------|---------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Sl. No |         | 2017-18         | 2018-19         | 2019-20         | 2020-21         | 2021-22         |
| 1      | Sikkim  | 136.00          | 194.50          | 82.50           | 144.00          | 273.3           |

Annexure-II Annex referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.556 for answer on 06.02.2023.

| Financial Year   | Details of Training                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2018-2019        | 1. Training of TRl officials on implementation of FRA, 2006. 2. Training of trainers in r/o district officials on FRA, 2006. 3. Development of training modules and literature on FRA, 2006 in local language. 4. Awareness on FRA to all the Panchayats of the State. 5. Week long capacity building programme on Lepcha tribal folk theatre-drama. 6. One day seminar on value addition and market linkage or products of tribal artisans 7. Capacity building-training of Lepcha Hat weaving (dying Art) including awareness on patent registration or geographical indication or bar-coding or packaging. |
| 2019-2020        | Seven day National Workshop for Bhutia, Lepcha, Limboo, Tamang and Sherpa language teachers on teaching and learning tribal languages in Sikkim.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 2020-2021        | 1. Promotion of Lepcha art of making cane and bamboo crafts for livelihood in North, South, East and West Sikkim @Rs. 10.00 lakh per district. 2. Promotion of Tamang tribal art of Thanka painting, wood carving and traditional instruments with costumes for Tamang tribal ritual specialist. 3. Promotion of weaving of traditional clothes from handlooms for the development of dress culture and traditional costumes of the Limboo tribe including making of Traditional Drum (Chyabrung).                                                                                                            |

## Annexure-III Annex referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.556 for answer on 06.02.2023.

North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd (NEHHDC) is a CPSE under  the  aegis  of  Ministry  of  Development  of  North  Eastern.  The  organization  provides handholding support for artisans and weavers in the entire North Eastern Region.

North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd (NEHHDC) is uplifting the  culture  and  traditions  of  the  indigenous  communities  of  the  North  East  by  promoting  the indigenous  crafts  of  the  region  through  connecting  craftsmen  to  prospective  markets  and consumers and generating economic, cultural and social opportunities for creators while adding cultural value for the consumers.

- a)  North  Eastern  Handicrafts  and  Handlooms  Development  Corporation  Limited  has  signed MoUs with number of entrepreneurs from North Eastern states; for showcasing and marketing of handicrafts &  handlooms  products  of those entrepreneurs in various platforms like (i) NEHHDC's  own  chain  emporium  in  New  Delhi,  Kolkata,  Guwahati,  Kevadiya(Gujarat)  (ii) NEHHDC's own ecommerce portal https://purbashree.com/, (iii) Amazon, Flipkart, GoCoop and GeM.
- b)  Northeast  Kalakriti  2022  was  conducted  by  NEHHDC,  which  is  a  free  platform  where NEHHDC  is  offering  the  artisans  of  Northeast  India  to  meet  the  urban  customers  directly. Leading  to  make  the  artisans  understand  the  urban  trends  and  on  the  other  hand  make  the customers understand an artisan's lifestyle.
- c)  For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  Surajkund  Mela,  NEHHDC  is  mobilising  the  biggest artisan's contingent from NER to participate in the 36th Surajkund International Craft Mela from 03 rd to 19 th February, 2023.
- d) NEHHDC has commissioned two mobile showrooms christened as 'Purbashree on Wheels' which provide necessary market linkage to the artisans groups, SHGs, entrepreneurs of NER.
- e)   NEHHDC is setting up of North East (Ashtlaxmi) Haat & Experience Centre for Facilitating Market Linkage for the Handicrafts & Handloom Artisans and Weavers from the North Eastern Region ₹7.6 crores. In the proposed Haat all the eight NE states will be provided 03 stalls each for  showcasing& marketing of handicrafts  &  handlooms  items  along  with  ethnic  cuisine.  The project has received administrative approval from North Eastern Council, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.

## Skilling and up-skilling:-

- a. NEHHDC has been registered / recognized as:
- I. Training Partner (TP) with the National Skill Development Council (NSDC) under the M/o Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, GoI
- II. NEHHDC  has  been  recognised  as  Skill  Hub  for  integrated  skilling  approach  under National SC-ST HUB Scheme by Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India
- III. Nominated  by  the  Ministry  of  MSME,  GoI  as  'Nodal  Agency'  for  implementation  of projects under their SFURTI scheme.
- IV. Nominated as a Centre of Excellency by the Handicraft & Carpet Sector Skill Council.
- b. NEHHDC is conducting various skilling & upskilling course amongst SC & ST youths of NER for self-employment & livelihood support, sponsored by the National SC-ST HUB Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India. NEHHDC has been given a target for skilling & upskilling of 1200 nos. of  SC & ST youths of the North East region against a financial lay of ₹2.25 crore under the National SC-ST HUB Scheme by Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India.  As  of  now  1050  nos.  of  SC  &  ST  youths  of  Nagaland,  Mizoram,  Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, & Tripura are undergoing various courses viz. Tour Guide course, Two Shaft  Handloom  Weaver,  Field  Technician  Computing  &  Peripherals,  Self  Employed Tailor,  Taxi  Driver,  Jacquard  Weaver-Handloom  and  Bamboo  Utility  Handicrafts Assembler etc.
- c. NEHHDC has been designated as a Training Centre by Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India for imparting training under the SAMARTH.

## Market intelligence

- a) NEHHDC & NIFT have entered into collaboration for 'VISIONXT' programme where Artificial  Intelligence,  Trend  Spotters,  Workshops,  Market  Intelligence  will  be  used  for Trend Forecasting. VISIONXT is Artificial Intelligence enabled Trends Insight  &Fashion Forecasting Lab at M/o Textiles, Govt. of India.
- b) On 9th October 2022, during the 70th Plenary of the NEC, Hon'ble Union Home Minister & Chairman NEC Shri Amit Shah launched the Mobile Application of NEHHDC dedicated to  the  artisans  and  weavers  of  North  East  India,  in  presence  of  Shri  G.  Kishan  Reddy Hon'ble  DoNER  Minister,  Vice  Chairman,  NEC.  In  this  app  Artisans  can  upload  their products  directly  to  the  App.  The  app  is  also  equipped  with  various  Courses  for  better Training  and  Skill  Development  of  the  Artisans.   News  section  of  the  app  will  keep  the artisans updated with relevant information. Till now around 230 numbers of artisans from NE states are registered in the mobile app.
- c)  Imitation  and  mass  manufactured  products  by  machine  are  driving  out  genuine  handwoven  products  out  of  the  market  leading  to  lower  demand  and  earnings  for  handloom weavers. NEHHDC has received administrative approval from NEC, M/o DoNER for the project  'Market  Development  by  Way  of  Digitization,  Authentication  and  Implementing Traceability  in  Handloom  Sector  of  North  Eastern  States'  for  financial  outlay  of  ₹14.92 crores. Under the project 10,000 handlooms will be digitalized with IoT devices. By way of implementing  this  project,  NEHHDC  aims  to  provide  identity,  authenticity  to  the  handwoven products which would help in market expansion. It will further increase in earnings of the weavers 15% by the end of the project period and 30% over the next five years.

## Raw material availability

- a) To modernize handloom and handicrafts industry and provide marketing support to the industry,  NEHHDC  has  received  administrative  approval  from  NEC,  M/o  DoNER  for establishment of an Eri Silk Spinning Mill at Integrated Textile Park, Baksa (Assam) for a

project  cost  of  ₹14.92  crores.  Once  completed,  it  will  process  270MT  per  annum  of  Eri cocoons to produce 170MT per annum Eri silk yarns. NEHHDC's projected profits of the Spinning Mill will be ₹0.75 lakhs per annum.

## Road Maps for next five years:-

NEHHDC has prepared the following  road  maps  for next  five  years  need  to  be  taken  to encourage and incentivise the handloom and handicrafts industry in the region:-

1. Undertake Cluster & Skill Development
2. Market Eri Cocoon & Raw Silk
3. Establish a banana fibre extraction Plant
4. Establish Integrated Handloom Export Hubs
5. NEHHDC be a lead marketing agency for Handicrafts & Handlooms in NE India
6. Establish a regional Digital Design Centre
7. Establish a pineapple leaf fibre extraction plant
8. NEHHDC be an apex body for Market Research & Consultancy
9. Promote and market Craft Tourism in NER

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