A seven-day skill-based training on indigenous pottery making concluded at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Community and Skill Development Centre (DDUCC), Wahiajer, a constituent college of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU).
The training was conducted from July 12 to 18, witnessed the active participation of 30 individuals from Wahiajer and surrounding areas in Jaintia Hills, representing a diverse cross-section of the local community.
Renowned pottery artisan Roilin Pyrtuh of Larnai village led the sessions, offering hands-on demonstrations and sharing her expertise in indigenous pottery techniques.
The participants engaged enthusiastically in practical sessions and gained essential skills for adopting pottery-making as a means of livelihood and cultural preservation.
NEHU Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. S. Umdor, Lukas Jat member of Wahiajer village, Dr. F. R. Sumer, Principal In-Charge, DDUCC, Latu Nartiang, Branch Manager of Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank, Ummulong Branch, faculty members, staff, students, community members and others attended the concluding day.
Umdor in his address lauded the DDUCC team for their dedication and timely initiative. He highlighted the importance of indigenous trades like pottery-making and encouraged participants to leverage their newly acquired skills, especially in light of the growing tourism sector in Jaintia Hills.
He stressed that such training programmes align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for integrating vocational education with academic learning to empower communities and boost local economies.
The speakers collectively noted the enthusiasm and diligence displayed by the participants, many of whom included youth and farmers, and acknowledged the growing interest in pottery-making among women across the region. They remarked that such programmes not only preserve cultural heritage but also offer economic opportunities through local markets and potentially global exposure via innovative design and production.
