The one-year project “Scheme on Studies for Promotion & Strengthening of Black Pottery” ended at Tyrshang and Larnai villages under West Jaiñtia Hills district today.
The project was funded by the Department of Commerce and Industries (DCI) and implemented by Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization (MGIRI) Wardha, Maharashtra, an R&D institute under the Ministry of MSME, Government of India.
The one year project was divided in two phases. Phase I involved studying the black pottery artisans and based on the study, Phase II activities were designed, including capacity building and awareness activities for the sustainability of the cluster.
The main objective of the project was to make traditional industries more competitive, with more market-driven, productive, profitable, and self-sustained employment for traditional industry, artisans, and rural entrepreneurs, to strengthen the local governance systems of industry, to build up innovated and traditional skills, improved technologies, advanced processes of market intelligence and new models, empowering the traditional black pottery craftsmen to upgrade their skills and production methods, creating awareness of market avenues to market their products.
A formal closing ceremony for the project was attended by M.L Wanshong, Joint Director DCI, Shillong, B. Warjri, General Manager, DCIC, Dr. K Venkata Rao, Dy Director MGIRI, S Kharpran, Functional Manager, DCIC, Jowai, Larnai Village Chairman Kyrmenlang Pyrtuh, and the artisans.
