Ambassadors' Meet Organized by MDoNER Garners Huge Support from Foreign Diplomats to Explore Endless Possibilities in NER

• April 16, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

In a significant step toward enhancing international cooperation and fostering global investment in India’s vibrant North East, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER)  organized Ambassadors’ Meet  in New Delhi on April 15, 2025.  Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and senior diplomatic representatives from over 80 countries participated . The event was aimed at showcasing the immense potential of the North Eastern Region (NER) and strengthening bilateral ties for sustainable development.

The National Geographic Society and De Beers Group Announce Opening of New Nkashi Knowledge Centre in the Okavango Delta

• April 09, 2025

Source: National Geographic

The National Geographic Society and De Beers Group announced the opening of the Nkashi Knowledge Centre in Beetsha, Botswana, which is proudly supported through their Okavango Eternal partnership. The Nkashi Knowledge Centre in Beetsha provides a vital community hub for all generations. Building on the success of the first Centre in Maun, which opened in 2022 and has welcomed over 3,000 visitors, the new Nkashi Knowledge Centre, funded by Okavango Eternal, will serve the communities of the Okavango Delta’s Eastern Panhandle. This new location in Beetsha expands access to learning and skills development in one of the most remote parts of the Delta — helping support the region’s growing demands for conservation education, vocational training and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Nagaland University gets IKS Research Centre to Preserve and Advance Indigenous Water Management and Culinary Knowledge

• April 07, 2025

Source: Hub News

In a major boost to traditional knowledge research in the Northeast, the Ministry of Education, through its Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) division under AICTE, has sanctioned an IKS Research Centre at Nagaland University. This new initiative will focus on studying and preserving the indigenous water management practices in agriculture and the ethnic culinary traditions of Nagaland’s tribal communities.

Nagaland University, the only central university in the state, will now serve as a hub for exploring how indigenous communities sustainably manage their natural resources and maintain culinary heritage rooted in generations of lived experience. The project aligns with a national push to integrate India’s diverse traditional knowledge systems into contemporary research and education.

Parliament Question: Budgetary Allocation to Mega Handloom Clusters

• April 01, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

Government of India through the Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles is implementing Mega Cluster Development Programme, a component of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), all across the country (including Andhra Pradesh State). Under Mega Cluster Development Programme, need based financial assistance upto Rs.30.00 Crore (GOI share) per Mega Handloom Cluster is provided on receipt of complete proposals for various interventions like upgraded looms & accessories, solar lighting units, worksheds, design and product development, marketing support, setting up of common infrastructure such as Value Addition Centre (Garmenting/Apparel unit), Reeling, Processing, Printing units etc.

There is no separate budget allocation for Mega Cluster Development programme however, during financial year 2022-23 to 2024-25, financial assistance of Rs.3,029.327 lakh has been provided for setting up of Mega Handloom Clusters.

Parliament Question: Promoting Livelihood of Rural Women through Sericulture

• April 01, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Government through Central Silk Board has been implementing the Silk Samagra-2 scheme with an outlay of Rs.4,679.85 crore for the overall development of sericulture industry throughout  the country, which covers around  55 -60% participation of women beneficiaries.

Central schemes like Silk Samagra, Silk Samagra-2 and North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) have been implemented wherein, extended assistance, training & support to sericulture stakeholders including women is provided through States for the beneficiary oriented components.

Ministry of Textiles implements SAMARTH Scheme for skilling and up-skilling through training in various textile sectors including Silk. Since 2021-22, 7,985 beneficiaries including women has been trained in silk sector under SAMARTH Scheme.   

Certification for eri silk

• March 20, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, has obtained Oeko-Tex certification for eri silk from Germany. Oeko-Tex is a worldwide certification for textiles such as yarns, fabrics, buttons, linens, terry cloth, thread, and other accessory materials that tests for harmful substances in raw, semi-finished and finished textile materials and products. The Oeko-Tex certification ensures that the final product is safe for human use.

Obtaining the Oeko-Tex certification is a crucial milestone in enhancing the marketability of eri silk in the global textile industry. The certification ensures international buyers that eri silk meets international safety and quality standards, boosting consumer confidence and facilitating its acceptance in high-end markets. It also ensures that eri silk meets international compliance requirements for textile safety. This allows Indian exporters to compete in high-end markets that prioritize eco-friendly and chemical-free products. Additionally, Oeko-Tex certification aligns with global sustainability trends, making eri silk more attractive to brands and consumers seeking ethical and environmentally responsible textile choices.

Projects under PM-DevINE

• March 19, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

The projects sanctioned under PM-DevINE are executed by the State Governments/Implementing Agencies (IAs) concerned in the North Eastern Region (NER) and the primary responsibility of monitoring of these projects lies with the concerned State Governments/IAs.

The MDoNER also closely monitors the progress of the ongoing projects under PM-DevINE at different levels. The officials of Ministry of DoNER/NEC carry out inspection of the select projects on a regular basis.

The Field Technical Support Units (FTSU) have been set up by the Ministry in all the 08 NE States, who regularly interact with project Implementing Agencies and maintain and update the database of projects on Gati Shakti Portal of MDoNER, and also carry out inspections of the ongoing projects.

In order to further strengthen the monitoring mechanism and to ensure quality control of the ongoing projects under the various schemes of MDoNER inter-alia including PM-DevINE, the Project Quality Monitors/Third Party Technical Inspection (PQM/TPTI) Units have been engaged.

Sanctioning of projects under PM-DevINE requires vetting of the DPR of a project by institute of repute like IIT, NIT etc. and subsequently recommended by SLEC and EIMC. This ensures that the project contains sustainability plan, targeted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Statutory clearances like environment and forest clearance etc. so that the projects sanctioned under PM-DevINE are sustainable and eco-friendly.

Capacity Building Scheme for NER

• March 12, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has informed that an amount of Rs. 25 crore was authorized to them for implementation of capacity building component of Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Scheme on transfer from Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.

Since 2015, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is imparting skill development training through Short-Term Training (STT) and up-skilling and re-skilling through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to youth across the country including Assam with aim to enhance the employability of the youth to access employment opportunities by equipping them with industry relevant skills. After successful implantation of three phases, PMKVY 4.0 is currently under progress across the country including Assam

Food security must prioritise Indigenous knowledge over corporate control

• March 10, 2025

Source: Down To Earth

Food sovereignty is jeopardized, especially within Indigenous food systems that function as biodiversity hotspots. Nevertheless, policies persist in promoting monocultures, chemical inputs, and corporate dominance over seeds, so eroding the fundamental processes that sustain life. Research conducted by 16 Indigenous women representing 16 Indigenous Peoples from all seven socio-cultural areas, published in the newest edition of Knowledge Makers Journal, indicated that Indigenous knowledge is crucial for mitigating food insecurity, biodiversity loss, and climate vulnerability. The journal commenced on March 7, 2025.The journal cautioned that numerous Indigenous food systems in India are under risk. Conventional millets, pulses, and indigenous rice types are being supplanted by high-yield hybrids that lack genetic robustness, rendering Indian food systems increasingly susceptible to unpredictable climatic conditions.

TRIFED signs MoU with Rooftop to facilitate skill enhancements of tribal artisans and facilitating their businesses

• February 25, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

In a significant move to transcend from B2C to B2B approach for tribal marketing, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has entered into a strategic partnership with Rooftop to facilitate tribal businesses. To take it forward, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 24th February in New Delhi, marking a pivotal step in facilitating the implementation of the B2B approach and augmentation of the tribal product market.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Managing Director of TRIFED Shri Ashish Chatterjee during the ongoing flagship event ‘Aadi Mahotsav’, held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in the National Capital from 16 to 24 February 2025. Rooftop MoU was signed and exchanged between TRIFED Deputy General Manager Ms Preeti Tolia and Rooftop Founder & CEO Shri Kartik Gaggar. The principal objective of the MoU is to aid the skill enhancements of the tribal artisans.