Nagaland artisans receive training and market access through TRIFED initiative

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, organized a Tribal Artisans’ Empanelment Mela (TAeM) in Kohima on August 27. The event aimed to support Nagaland's indigenous artisans by connecting them with market demands and commercial networks.

Under the PM Vishwakarma scheme, approximately 2,000 artisans in Nagaland have been registered and trained across six different trades. Officials noted that the Northeast region accounts for roughly 3,500 of the 5,000 registered artisans in India. The initiative seeks to provide sustainable livelihoods by allowing TRIFED to source handicraft products directly from artisans, thereby removing intermediaries and middlemen.

Registered artisans may undergo quality and pricing assessments for their products to facilitate direct marketing. The program also offers opportunities for artisans to participate in national exhibitions and utilize various nodal departments, including the Department of Forest and the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission, to implement these livelihood schemes.