LUMLA : The Arunachal Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board (APKVIB) organised a Gramin Udyog and Entrepreneurship Development Workshop at Lumla on Tuesday to promote rural entrepreneurship, self-employment and sustainable livelihood opportunities through micro and small enterprises.
The workshop brought together artisans, farmers, Self-Help Group (SHG) members, unemployed youth and aspiring entrepreneurs from different parts of the subdivision.
Resource persons from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and APKVIB highlighted the potential of village-based industries in Tawang district.
Addressing the gathering, Lumla MLA and Advisor for Planning and Women & Child Development Tsering Lhamu emphasised the role of entrepreneurship in generating employment and strengthening the rural economy. She encouraged youth to become job creators and take advantage of various schemes and support mechanisms offered by government agencies. She also stressed the importance of value addition, innovation and market linkages to enhance the income potential of local products.
APKVIB Chairman Adv Maling Gombu highlighted the board’s efforts to connect artisans, entrepreneurs and farmer groups with government programmes aimed at promoting rural industries, including those in the agriculture and allied sectors. He urged participants to register with APKVIB to avail institutional support, capacity building and handholding services for enterprise development.
During the technical sessions, MSME Itanagar Director (I/c) Dr Satish Kumar presented various schemes and programmes for the promotion of micro, small and medium enterprises. Participants were sensitised on entrepreneurship development, business planning, financial assistance, skill development and digital marketing opportunities.
NERAMAC Business Development Officer Md Abdul Rakib provided an overview of market linkage initiatives and buyback schemes available for agriculture and allied sector products in Arunachal Pradesh. He highlighted the potential of the Lumla area for high-value agricultural enterprises and value-added products.
Participants also raised concerns regarding market opportunities for crops and products such as amla, lemongrass and medicinal plants, while seeking greater support and handholding from both state and central government agencies.
More than 200 participants attended the programme and interacted with experts on opportunities for establishing village-based enterprises. The workshop concluded with a call for collective efforts to transform rural areas into centres of entrepreneurship and self-reliance in line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.
APKVIB Development Officer Ralong Singhi reaffirmed the board’s commitment to supporting rural entrepreneurs through training, technology support, capacity building and market facilitation to create sustainable livelihood opportunities across the state. (DIPR)
