MLA & Advisor for Industries and Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu on Tuesday said that local economy and employment opportunities in Nagaland can be strengthened only through MSMEs and the business community, adding, if MSMEs are properly established, 70-80 percent of the struggles are already won.
Speaking during an interactive session with the legislators of Nagaland on the UNNATI 2024 Scheme and PM Vishwakarma, organized by the Department of Industries and Commerce, Jakhalu emphasized that it is the responsibility of legislators to make the public aware of the alternative opportunities and schemes created for them.
Speaking on the RAMP (Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance) scheme, a World Bank-assisted central sector programme under the Ministry of MSME, she said that officials have reached every corner of the state to spread awareness.
She stressed that people in every constituency should be informed so that genuine beneficiaries can avail the benefits of the scheme. She also informed that 750 high-potential MSMEs would be mentored under the initiative, and urged legislators to identify and recommend genuine entrepreneurs who can become role models for their constituencies.
Jakhalu also spoke briefly on the PMFME (PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises) Scheme under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, which empowers individual micro-entrepreneurs, FPOs, and SHGs. She remarked that the food processing sector is rapidly growing in Nagaland.
She appreciated the efforts of NSRLM in systematising activities at the constituency level and also lauded the development of SHGs across the state.
Encouraging grassroots weavers to benefit from government schemes, she highlighted textiles, particularly handloom and handicrafts, along with food processing, as important sectors for economic growth.
She further called upon women engaged in handloom activities to submit names of genuine weavers for Individual Weaver’s Sheds, stating that proper sheds are necessary for communication, upgrading skills, and supporting authentic weavers to avail government assistance.
Jakhalu also highlighted PM Vishwakarma as an initiative aimed at empowering traditional artisans and craftspeople through skill development, financial assistance, and market support to strengthen self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods.
In his welcome address, Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Kumar Ramnikant, IAS said that the schemes highlighted during the session reflect a shared vision of self-reliance through entrepreneurship and skill development. He stated that UNNATI is emerging as a catalyst for entrepreneurship in the Northeast region and informed that there are currently 55 units in Nagaland under the scheme.
He said the initiative has the potential to create opportunities for the people of the State, particularly artisans, by scaling up traditional crafts, establishing market linkages, and promoting rural tourism through micro-level tourism activities.
He also noted that six traditional trades have been identified for training programmes in Nagaland and informed that, as of 25th May 2026, a total of 1,939 artisans had been trained under PM Vishwakarma.
Ramnikant said the schemes act as a bridge between heritage and the modern economy by transitioning traditional and isolated practices into the formal, digital, and global marketplace. He urged the legislators present to extend their leadership and support in ensuring awareness and effective implementation of the schemes in their respective constituencies, adding that collective efforts are needed to build a skilled and economically vibrant Nagaland.
Director, Industries & Commerce, P Tokugha Sema, while speaking on the implementation of the scheme in Nagaland, said that awareness regarding UNNATI has already been disseminated across all districts of the State. He appealed to the legislators to help identify genuine and capable entrepreneurs from their constituencies who could benefit from the scheme and contribute towards local economic development.
Delivering the closing remarks, Additional Director, Industries & Commerce, Er Lipongse Thongtsar said the department is taking active steps to reach out to constituencies at the village level. He said ease of access to finance, technology support, and grievance resolution are among the department’s main focus areas. He also said the department is working towards promoting the textile sector to uplift the rural economy.
Thongtsar added that the objective of the programme was to help legislators better understand the schemes and the scope of the department so that the information could be effectively disseminated to the public and reach the rightful beneficiaries.
Altogether, twelve legislators attended the programme.
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During the session, a presentation on the UNNATI 2024 scheme highlighted that the programme was launched to strengthen the industrial ecosystem in the Northeast region and attract new investments. The presentation informed that the scheme covers all eight Northeastern states and provides incentives for manufacturing, services, and micro industries. It also highlighted incentives such as capital investment support, capital interest subvention, and manufacturing and services-linked incentives. The presentation further noted that sectors including tourism and hospitality, healthcare, biotech, EV charging stations, IT-enabled services, ropeways, and tech-oriented startups are among the focus areas under the scheme.
During the presentation of PM Vishwakarma (PMVK), the PMVK Team Nagaland, highlighted the scheme’s role in empowering traditional artisans and craftspeople through skill development, financial assistance, and market support. Active trades in Nagaland under the scheme include basket weaving, tailoring, carpentry, masonry, barbering, and doll and toy making. The team also shared that beneficiaries receive PM Vishwakarma Certificates and ID cards, toolkits worth Rs 15,000, collateral-free loans of up to Rs 3 lakh at 5% interest, and digital market linkage support. As of March 31, 2026, a total of 1,884 artisans in Nagaland have been trained and assessed, while loans worth Rs 3.91 crore and 773 toolkits have been disbursed under the scheme.
The team also highlighted the objectives and benefits of the Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI). The scheme aims to strengthen and promote micro food processing units across the country through financial assistance, branding, marketing, training, technical guidance, packaging, quality control, and market linkage support.
Beneficiaries under the scheme are eligible to avail a credit-linked capital subsidy @35% for setting up new units or upgrading existing enterprises. Implemented under the One District One Product (ODOP) approach, the scheme also focuses on promoting local products, improving value chains, supporting SHGs, FPOs, and cooperatives, and encouraging entrepreneurship, employment generation, and sustainable economic growth in Nagaland.
