IMPHAL, October 20 : NEDFI was declared winner of the NABARD rural innovaton award – 2012 in the category of public/co-operative sector government for its contribution towards promoting handicraft products made from water hyacinth.
Union minister of finance, P Chidambaram presented the award to NEDFI in presence of Jairam Ramesh, union ministry for rural development at a function held on 17 October 2012 at NDMC convention centre, NEW Delhi. The 3 year water hyacinth craft project of NEDFi which is sponsored by North Eastern Council, Shillong has enabled more than 13000 artisan of the region to take up the craft as a source of sustainable livelihood.
In a statement issued to the press, NABARD said it has constituted the award for rural innovation to commemorate its completion of 30 years for encouraging grassroots innovation towards improving efficiency and productivity though locally available resources. NABARD received more than 14000 entries for the contest.
The final awardees were selected from the 30 shortlisted innovations in five different categories by a panel of expert jury headed by Jairam Ramesh, union minister for rural development, NEDFi is the only winner from the eastern and north eastern part of India.
BP Muktieh, CMD, NEDFI dedicated the award to the artisans and craftpersons of the region whose commitment has enabled the project to reach the level of national regocnition, He further stated that this will encourage the corporation to undertake further product development and design in water hyacinth craft with quality input from national/international level trainers and covering more artisans of the region.
He acknowledge that the establishment of the craft as an alternative handicraft item of Nort East was possible with contribution and support received from different organisation like NEC, Shillong, NID, Ahmedabad and UNIDO, New Delhi He stated that the chief minister and Industry minister of Assam have always supported NEDFi in it initiative to promote the craft.