we should modernise the designs to appeal to the urban consumers across the country – B.K. Handique

INVC,,

Guwahati,

The Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region, Shri B.K. Handique today inaugurated the North East Craft Museum at Guwahati. On the occasion, he said that while preserving traditional motifs on handicrafts, we should modernise the designs to appeal to the urban consumers across the country by proper finishing and branding. He emphasised to involve National Institute of Design on a more long term and sustainable basis for increasing the income of artisan.

This is the only Handicrafts Museum in the North East which has artifacts from all the North Eastern States including Sikkim. Under the initiative of North East Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation (NEHHDC), the Museum has been financed by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) and set up in a 10000 Sq.ft. shed. Work on the Museum started in 2009 with the disposal of the old and heavy machinery and major repair works took up almost the entire year. Thereafter the works on the interiors were taken up and it took final shape in 2011. The Museum has a unique collection of basketries some of which are decades old.