Handicraft

TRAINING PROGRAMME IN CRAFT CENTRES:-

West Kameng District is having rich heritage of hand loom and handicrafts activities which are directly associated with the culture of the people. With a view to preserve and promote this activities, the department of Textile and Handicrafts have been running training programmes in various trades like carpet, weaving, traditional painting, tailoring, wood carving, wood turning, traditional shoe making, silver smithy etc for the school drop outs and unemployed youths of this District with an stipend of RS.550/- per month to each trainees at its Craft Centre at Bomdila and Kalaktang.

SERICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES:-

The climatic condition of West Kameng District is suitable for growth of 3(three) varieties of silk worm viz Oak, Tasar, Eri and Mulberry. The Department has got three nos. of sericulture demonstration farms in the District, one each at Dirang, Jerigaon and Khoina to assist the village rearers for up-liftmen of their economic conditions. The interested sericulture village rearers are provided with rearing house, rearing equipments and financial help for raising of food plants with assistance from Central Silk Board under Catalytic Development Programme. During the Year 2006-07 the department has assisted 50 nos of rearers under the above scheme and same numbers of targets have been received for the current financial year.

HEALTH INSURANCE FOR HANDLOOM WEAVERS:-

The Department is implementing Health Insurance Scheme for hand loom weavers introduced by the Govt. of India in year 2005-2006 through ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Itd. This scheme aims at financially enabling the weaver community to access the best of health care facilities in the country. The scheme not only covers the weaver but also her husband and two children for all pre-existing diseases as well as new disease keeping substantial provision for OPD. The ICICI Lombard shall· reimburse expenses incurred by the weavers in the course of medical treatment availed of any hospital or nursing home within the country subject to the annual limit of Rs.15,000/- per weaver. The annual premium of Rs.1, 000/- only is paid by Govt. of India directly to ICICI Lombard on behalf of the weavers. In West Kameng District all together 1600 nos of Weavers have been enrolled so far under this scheme and claim of Rs.89, 040 have been reimbursed to the weavers on account of their treatment expenses.

MAHATMA GANDHI BUNKAR BIMA YOJANA (MGBBY):-

The Department is implementing the Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana introduced by the Govt. of India for the 11th Five Year Plan to provide enhanced insurance cover to hand loom weavers in the case of natural as well as accidental death and in case of total or partial disability. The scheme is implemented in collaboration with the Life Insurance Corporation of India.

The annual premium of Rs 330/- per member will be shared as under:-

• Government of Indias contribution – Rs 150/-
• Weavers contribution – Rs 80/-
• LIC’S CONTRIBUTION – Rs 100/-
• Total Premium – Rs 330/-

The benefits under this scheme w.e.f. 1/10/07 is under as:-

• Natural death – Rs 60,000/-
• Accidental Death – Rs 1,50,000/-
• Total disability – Rs 1,50,000/-
• Partial Disability – Rs 75,000/-

A scholarship of RS.300/- only per quarter per child for two children studying in standard IXth to XIIth for a maximum period of 4 years or till the completion of XIIth standard will be paid as additional benefit to the children of the parents who are covered under this scheme.

In West Kameng District, 545 weavers have been enrolled under this scheme as on date.

HIGH SKILLED DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAMME:-

The Department is also conducting High Skilled Development Training Programme for traditional artisans, weavers and passed out trainees of Craft Centres with a view to upgrade their skills and provides an opportunity to take up self employment programmes with an enhanced stipend.

During the year 2008-09 the Department has conducted one such programme for 15 youths in carpet making at Kalaktang with the funding from Border Area Development Programme.

INTEGRATED HANDLOOM DEVELOPMENT SCHEME:-

The Govt. of India Ministry ‘of Textiles, Office of the Development Commissioner Handlooms, New Delhi has approved and sanctioned a project amounting to RS.57.95 lacs for setting up of Handloom Cluster in Dirang area under the Integrated Handloom Development scheme which will be implemented over three years starting from 2008-09.

The Cluster Development Programme will address the requirements of cluster in a coordinated and omprehensive manner. The following are the components under the Integrated Cluster Development Scheme:-

• Baseline survey/Diagnostic study/Formation of Self Help Group.
• Formation of consortium
• Corpus Fund for Yarn Depot.
• Skilled Up-gradation.
• Design development and product diversification.
• Setting up of Common Facility Centre/Dye house
• Publicity and marketing.
• Project management cost.
• Basic inputs.