Traditional Nicobari craftsmanship received an institutional push as a ten-day handicraft training programme commenced across the five Tribal Council jurisdictions of Nancowry Block. Spearheaded by the district administration and the Directorate of Rural Development under the DAY-NRLM scheme, the initiative aims to equip self-help group members and youth with hands-on skills in time-honoured artisanal techniques.
The simultaneous launch of sessions in Kamorta, Nancowry, Katchal, Teressa, and Chowra reinforced the scale and intent of the initiative. In Kamorta and Nancowry, the inaugural function included the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and speeches from officials urging the preservation of cultural traditions while encouraging artisans to transform their skills into viable income-generating ventures.
At Katchal, Teressa and Chowra, the training was flagged off by local tribal leaders, adding a layer of grassroots endorsement to the programme. Each session places emphasis on core craft forms like weaving, traditional woodwork, and ornament making, skills that have been passed down through generations but risk fading without institutional support.
Trainers leading the programme will work closely with participants to improve design elements, introduce quality control standards, and explore potential market linkages. This approach aims to help rural artisans fetch better value for their products and secure sustainable livelihoods. It also seeks to offer meaningful vocational alternatives to young people, discouraging the shift toward low-paying, unskilled jobs in urban areas.
Officials backing the programme view it as a prototype that could eventually expand into a network of skill cells across all village clusters in the islands. Their long-term vision frames heritage not as a static display of the past but as a living, income-generating force that can empower communities while preserving identity.
