SHILLONG: A one-day workshop was organised by the Directorate of Commerce & Industries recently for craft persons of the State.
In a free and open discussion conducted by the design faculty from IIT Guwahati and Mumbai, the audience was invited to share opinion covering the opportunities and difficulties faced by the craft persons in meeting challenges of marketing the craft and its journey from the village to the consumers.
The participants included craft persons, entrepreneurs, officials and representatives from District Commerce & Industries Centres, MIDC, MKVIB, MHHDC, local designers and students from IIT Guwahati.
During the deliberation a detailed study of the craft products of the craft person was made and also photo documented by the IIT design team.
The brain storming session was conducted by the faculty with various stake holders to gather information in meeting the challenges in the craft sector of the State.
During his inaugural address W. Langstang, Director of Commerce & Industries, said that the bamboo worth Rs.100 has the potential to earn upto Rs.3000 if “our highly-skilled craft community could be given the right inputs in better marketing and inputs through design intervention”.
Prof. Avinash Shende, IIT Guwahati, in his speech said that in the growing phase of development strategies in the marketing of craft products there are new possibilities of design intervention through the practice of “one village one product”.
Prof. Mandar Ranee, IIT Mumbai expressed need for exploring new opportunities through online marketing in a dynamic market place.