(a) the role of the Ministry in skill development and preservation of traditional skills in the North Eastern Region;
(b) whether the Ministry provides for livelihood generation through its schemes in the region; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of
North Eastern Region
[Dr. Jitendra Singh]
(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*79 for answer on 07.02.2018
(a) The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, through its various organizations, supports the development and preservation of traditional handloom and handicrafts skills. The North Eastern Council (NEC) has also supported some State Governments and agencies for promotion of preservation and development of some traditional crafts. The Ministry supports the North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) for promoting activities pertaining to awareness generation and marketing about the products inter alia associated with traditional crafts.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) through National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is now implementing Capacity Building Scheme (CB Scheme) for Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The scheme aims to provide funding for skill development, enhancing of employability and competencies and promotion of self-employment and entrepreneurship. Rs.25 crore was sanctioned to MSDE for training approximately 8153 candidates by March 2018. This also includes bamboo, handicrafts, weaving to enhance traditional skills.
(b) Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region also supplements the efforts of various Ministries who are engaged in livelihood through the projects of North Eastern Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP) and North Eastern Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP). These projects are enhancing the income and livelihood in selected districts in the North East.
(c) NERCORMP has reached out to 89449 households in 2041 villages across 10 districts as on 1st January, 2018. NERLP covers 1645 villages for 11 districts and is working with about three lakh members of Self-Help Groups.
Under North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, 9000 youths and SHG members have been provided vocational trainings, out of which 4600 youths have got job placement and 2000 youths and SHG members are self-employed, including pursuit of traditional products.
The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi) Guwahati during the last 3 years has provided capacity building support to 5178 beneficiaries while 1932 beneficiaries were provided assistance for marketing of their handloom and handicraft products under its CSR initiatives.