Shillong, July 20: Seven entrepreneurs from the state were felicitated with the ‘Ateliers Meghalaya Awards 2023’, at a function held at Marriott Hotel, here on Friday.
The Department of Tourism and Meghalaya Age Limited organised the Ateliers Meghalaya Awards 2023 that recognised exceptional talent across various creative domains, with a total of four categories. Each award recipient was honored with a certificate of recognition and a cheque of Rs 50,000.
The esteemed awardees were: Most innovative Product: Gourd Lamps by Christine G Momin from Tura; Best Atelier Promoting Cultural Heritage: Rani Maring from Pahambir, Ri-Bhoi & Blastin Sangma from Seempara, South Garo Hills; Customer’s Favourite Handloom Product: Bath Towels by Nela Handloom from Shillong & Eri Silk Accessories by KINIHO from Shillong; Customer’s Favourite Handicraft Product: Terracotta Bull by Arak Sangma from Tura & Recycled Paper Bag by Cryspil Sangma from Tura.
The awards to the various recipients were jointly handed over by Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma and Tourism Minister, Paul Lyngdoh.
The chief minister informed that they have started the award in 2021 where they had selected about 23 artisans.
“At that point of time we had given the awardees with Rs 5 lakh to each. And then the second batch given where we had given limited amount in two installments. But we have tried to reach out to many more artisans,” Sangma said.
According to him, the overall goal of the initiative is to be able to preserve the culture and the different aspects of it and at the same time, create livelihood out of what already exists.
He further stated that they are trying to connect these qualities with the growth in the textile sector is the way to actually unlock the potential that is there.
Chief Minister said that the Meghalayan Age store is now online and one can imagine the kind of impact it can have in terms of economics and livelihood creation and this is really what the game plan is.
He said that the various initiatives of the government to entrepreneurship is showing results whether it is the five programme of entrepreneurship or whether the different mission mode programmes or the creation of the 45,000 self help groups in the last five years.
“All these different activities are knitted into one large master plan, which ultimately once connected and one start moving. It works as an engine of growth for the economy and more importantly creates livelihood,” he said.
