Kohima: The Department of Industries and Commerce, in collaboration with the Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation (NIDC), organised the first Technology Clinic for the handloom sector in Nagaland under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performances (RAMP) Scheme.
Held at NIELIT Dimapur on Monday, the event was centered on “Product Diversification with Digital Technology” and aimed at modernising handloom practices through technological integration.
Chairman of NIDC, Kvulo Lorin, attended the clinic as the special guest, emphasising the critical need for practical, hands-on training in driving innovation within the handloom industry. Lorin noted the strong demand for Nagaland’s handloom products beyond state borders, foreseeing increased market demand and the need for technology to enable scalable production. He urged participants to leverage the clinic’s resources to upskill and embrace automation, especially as tourism growth boosts demand for local handloom products.
Organised into three focused clinics, the sessions introduced participants to advanced design and production techniques including digital and jacquard designing in handloom; software-based design and motif development; and revival of traditional weaving techniques with modern tools.
Textile designer Nchumyani Yanthan from NIELIT Dimapur led a session on digital design technology, while Sarbeswar Das, Officer-in-Charge of the Weavers and Apparel Centre, presented on digital design’s role in product diversification. Participants were provided laptops and practiced CAD/CAM technology for handloom designs, and they received hands-on experience with digital jacquard and embroidery machines.
RAMP is a World Bank supported scheme of the Government of India that aims to improve access to market, access to credit, capacity building of MSMEs, and so on. As per a government update, the RAMP programme comes at a crucial time adding impetus to support the overall COVID recovery efforts of the state by offering MSMEs and entrepreneurs in Nagaland the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive in this evolving economic landscape.
At the RAMP Technology Clinic participants from various sectors of MSMEs in Nagaland will be given the exposure to have hands on practical exercise on the emerging software and machines, to allow them to familiarise themselves with the technology of the changing times.
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