From Clay to Success: Meghalaya’s Black Pottery Project Culminates

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 14, 2024

The “Scheme on Studies for Promotion & Strengthening of Black Pottery at Tyrshang and Larnai village, West Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya” a one-year project funded by the Department of Commerce and Industries (DCI) and implemented by Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization (MGIRI), a R&D institute under the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, concluded today.

This project, spanning a year, was designed in two phases where Phase-1 involved studying on black pottery artisans on which Phase-II is being based where it deals with activities like capacity building and awareness for sustainability of this cluster.

The main objective of this project is to raise the potential of traditional industries making them more market driven, productive, profitable and providing self-sustained employment for traditional industry, artisans and rural entrepreneurs.

One of the significant goals of the project is to empower the traditional black pottery craftsmen to upgrade their skills and production methods. However, it also aims to strengthen the local governance systems of the industry, to build up innovated and traditional skills, to improve technologies, and also to create awareness of market avenues to market their products.

The One-year project finally concluded with a formal closing ceremony at Larnai Community Hall, attended by ML 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 were present for the closing programme.

ML Wanshong, Joint Director DCI, Shillong expressed appreciation towards the project Team for their dedicated efforts in providing training programmes to the artisans which includes an exposure trip to Siliguri and to Varanasi that has helped them to upgrade their skills. He emphasizes that the project has served as a platform for nurturing and enhancing the skills of the artisans, and he assured them as well that the Department of Commerce and industries will continue to support them.

The Artisans extended their gratefulness towards Dr. K Venkata Rao, Dy Director MGIRI and his team and also the department of commerce and Industries for the invaluable opportunity given to them. They expressed that the yearlong training had not only improved their skills but also expanded their horizons through the exposure trip to different locations. They also stated that the training has brought positive changes not only on an individual but to the community as a whole.

Dr. K Venkata Rao, also expressed his best wishes to the artisans and stresses on the importance of maintaining the skills and experiences they gained during the yearlong training.