On April 18, 2023, Union Minister Arjun Munda, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) launched MoTA’s new Central Sector Scheme (CSS) – ‘Marketing and Logistics Development for Promotion of Tribal Products from North -Eastern Region (PTP-NER)’ for the benefit of Scheduled Tribes(STs) of NER, during a function at Auditorium of Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) in Imphal, Manipur.
Key People: The scheme was launched in the presence of Manipur Chief Minister (CM) Nongthombam Biren Singh; Ramsinh Rathwa, Chairman, TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited), among others.
Budget:
For the implementation of the scheme, a substantial Budget of around Rs. 143 Crore has been allocated.
Aim of Scheme:
To strengthen livelihood opportunities for NER’s artisans from Scheduled Tribes (STs) through increased efficiency in procurement, logistics and marketing of tribal products from North Eastern states.
Coverage:
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim are among the states that will be covered by the programme.
Partners of Scheme:
i.North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), a corporation under the administrative control of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER).
ii.India Post under the Department of Posts
iii.North Eastern State Government Departments/ Agencies
PTP-NER Insights:
i.The scheme will assist tribal craftsmen through incubation support, aggregation, skill and entrepreneurial development, sourcing and procurement, marketing, transportation, and publicity thereby increasing their revenue.
- There will be regular Design & Skill Development training sessions tailored to the needs of the market for tribal recipients.
ii.There will be organization of 68 Tribal Artisan Melas (TAMs) in the several districts of the NERn starting on April 18, 2023, in order to begin the empanelment of tribal artisans from that region.
- All empanelled tribal artisans will get direct exposure through a variety of exhibitions, including Purvotar Aadi Mahotsav, Purvotar Aadi Bazaar, Exclusive North East Craft Mela, etc.
iii.National & International marketing linkages through various online & offline mode will be provided to tribal products of NER.
iv.India Post will provide logistics support in order to meet the scheme’s goals.
Note: During the function, 3 new products from Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVKs) across Manipur were also launched on the occasion viz. Cinnamon Rolls ((Dal Cheeni- Polished & Semi- Polished) from Kamjong District, Black Rice (Chakhao) from Ukhrul District and Dried Bamboo Shoot from Noney.
Recent Related News:
i.Yaoshang Festival, one of the major festivals of Manipur, very similar to Holi, is annually celebrated during the full moon of Lamta month of the Meitei lunar calendar. The 5-day Yaoshang Festival usually falls in the month of February or March.
ii.Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology inaugurated the International Bioresource Conclave & Ethno Pharmacology Congress at the City Convention Centre, Imphal, Manipur. The events were themed upon Reimagine Ethnopharmacology: Globalisation of Traditional Medicine.
About Manipur:
Chief Minister– Nongthombam Biren Singh
Governor– Anusuiya Uikey
Zoological Park– Manipur Zoological Garden
Airport– Imphal Airport (also called Bir Tikendrajit International Airport or Tulihal Airport)
