Handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh

Handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh

HandiCrafts

  • Indian words for handicrafts are commonly hastkala, hastshilp, dastkari, karigari, all meaning handiwork, but they also refer to objects made with craftsmanship, i.e., specialised skills of the hands which are also artistic.
  • The aesthetic content is an intrinsic part of such objects and means the object of utility has a value that goes beyond mere usage and is also pleasing to the eye.
  • Crafts are closely related to concept of form, pattern, design, usage, and these lead to its total aesthetic quality.
  • Arunachal Pradesh is the home to a large number of tribes and sub-tribes.
  • It has a rich tradition of craftsmenship, which manifests itself in various arts and crafts produced by these tribes.
  • The Buddhist including Monpas, Sherdukpen, Aka, Bugun et al make beautiful masks, carpets and painted wooden vessels.
  • The Bangis and Apatani make bag, hat, jewellery etc. Khamtis and Wanchos are well known for their wood carving. Pottery of Dafla women is well-known.
  • The significance is usually associated with the gonzo of tradition as people here defines their tribal community through oral handicrafts and each community has set of different things to offer which could be seen as great souvenir and could be compared as distinct from others.

Pottery Crafting of Handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh

  • It is another area of craft where local have excelled with great fluency, the perfect exhibition of utility of clay could be examine through pots beside that design and amulets in pot would make the entire scene very defining with full of expression.
  • Dafla women are skilled in this craft.
  • The legend is that Abo Takam was the first Dafla potter and from him the art passed on to the women.
  • The process involves pounding a specific kind of earth called dekam on a big stone with a wooden hammer. When it turns into powder, water is mixed and it is hammered till it gains the required softness.
  • Finished pots are not subjected to any polishing or burnishing. They are carefully kept in the shade while drying.
  • When completely dry, they are put in a fire out-side the house. There are no kilns or pot-ovens, though a ditch, if available, makes it convenient to put burning firewood over the pots.

Cane and Bamboo Work of Handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh

  • The cane and Bamboo industry dominates the front of handicraft sector here at Arunachal.Handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh
  • The bamboo and cane is associated with life of people as most of the domestic and household products are made out of bamboo.
  • The grand utilization of it could be trace through utensils, bamboo hat, basket, cane vessel; cane belts, woven and lain, bamboo mugs etc beside that ornaments and jewellery are other important parts of Bamboo work.

Weapons of Handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh

  • Weapons are an integral part of the tribal life since the times immemorial.
  • Although certain weapons have become obsolete and replaced by modern weapons yet traditional weapons have a place of their own.
  • Weapons are used in war and chase and day to day task. All such weapons are produced locally.
  • The most important weapon of Akas is bow and arrow, known by the names of tkeri and moo respectively, and used extensively in the chase.
  • Weapons may vary in size according to the user`s requirement.
  • The bigger ones used in hunting are fitted with tips of iron and smeared with aconite poison. The bows are usually hung over the shoulders while the arrows are carried in a case of bamboo called Thouvou.
  • Another weapon, orignally of war but now of defence, is a kind of crude harpoon, one end of which is barbed with sharp iron nails. It is hurled at the target from a distance.
  • The most common weapon used both in war and peace is the dao.
  • It is of extensive use to the people in their day-to-day task such as cutting wood and bamboo pieces, clearing shrubs and other growth in the forest etc. It is made of steel and is usually covered with bamboo sheath when not in use. The local term for dao is wetz
  • Like Akas, Pailibos also use different kinds of weapon.
  • They keep it in a special place. Some of the weapons used by them are as follows-
  1. UYI-A bamboo bow with a cane string.
  2. UPUK-A bamboo arrow without an iron tip or a poison.
  3. MORA-A bamboo arrow with an iron tip.
  4. GEB-BU-A quiver made from hollow bamboo with a bamboo lid.
  5. NYIBU-A pointed spear with long wooden pole and iron blade. It has a shaft made of a long pole of dry and hard wood. Below the metal head there is tuft of yak or horse hair.
  6. YOKSE-A big steel dao or sword.
  7. SOTAM-A shield made of bamboo and cane.
  8. CHOBUK-It is a sheath for the dao or medium size dagger made from cane and strengthened with pieces of wooden strips.
  9. EG-GYI-An iron axe used for felling trees and for slaughtering mithuns during sacrifice

Carpet Making of Handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh

  • The Carpet Making is a manifest of Monpas, the Buddhist community living in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The Monpas are expert in this process and the weave carpet with essence of design makes it more eclectic and cultural.
  • The religious expression finds true meaning in their works as geometrical progression moves from one angle to angle to portray the figures of dragons and floral patterns.
  • The carpet at present is high on demand as people around asking for it which in turn have graph the production to large scale.

Wood Carving of Handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh

  • Wood carving is one of the oldest tradition carried by locals of Arunachal Pradesh and again Monpas, the Buddhist community of the state is leading the front by making an ample use of their talent and understanding in carving and designing an element to a different level.
  • The grand example of wood carving could be trace through beautiful cups, wooden mask, etc.Handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh
  • Khamptis, another legion of tribal community is specifically renowned for wood carving and their idea of chiselling the woods is bit different as they craft religious figures, toys and other objects.
  • Wood carving is a tradition with some of the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The Monpas, Khamtis, Wanchos, Phom, Konyak tribes occupy significant place in this art.
  • Wood carving like in the case of Nagaland finds expression mainly under three categories;firstly, with head hunting, secondly with the decoration of the morungs or men`s youth dormitory and thirdly, the funerary images erected for warriors and other important person.
  • In carving of the human figure, special attention is paid to the head. The features are carved in low relief and are fairly realistic.
  • Usually the image depicting a warrior is decorated with special cowerie belt and several other artefacts.
  • The top of the head is rounded and usually has some indication of hair-cut.
  • Tattoo marks are carefully represented, and most figures are dressed up with little bits of cloth and even ornaments with tufts on head or beads in the ear.

Weaving

  • Weaving is the occupation of the womenfolk throughout the territory.
  • They have an excellent sense of colour.
  • The basic colours that dominate the weaves are black, yellow, dark blue, green and scarlet – all put together in the most fascinating combinations.
  • Originally natural dyes were used which today have given way to synthetic dyes.
  • The designs are essentially geometric varying from a formal arrangement to lines and bands.
  • Items that could make excellent buys are Sherdukpen shawls, Apatani jackets and scarves, Adi skirts, jackets and bags, Mishmi shawls, blouses and jackets; and Wancho bags.

Ornaments Making of Handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh

  • Ornaments making is a craft widely practised in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The work of a silver smith is more intricate and artistic.
  • The first stage in the manufacture of the traditional ornaments he makes, is to make a wax mould of the ornament.
  • This is done by warming the wax sticks or coils and then placing them on the standard moulds made of wax and wood.
  • Where designs are essential, they are made with thin wax coils and cut with a knife where necessary.
  • Scion of ornaments are another significant arts carried by local people of Arunachal, the layer of colours are usually the main highlights but implantation of beads is the complex idea that needs special attention.
  • Beside the game of colours, the feather of birds is used to add more spark to their ornaments.
  • The Akas tribe of Arunachal makes bamboo bangles and ear rings beside that they design pucker work.

Ivory and Metal Craft of Handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh

  • Ornaments made of brass, bone, ivory, silver and gold are also crafted – using a set of simple tools – by many of the tribes here.
  • The Monpas and Sherdukpens are well known as traditional silver smiths and even supply silver ornaments to other tribal groups – the Khowas, Mijis and Akas.
  • The Nishis and Sulungs have perfected the art of brass smithy. They dexterously craft ornaments, dishes, sacred bells and smoking pipes out of this metal.
  • The Khamptis work mainly in gold, iron, silver and ivory, though their products were mainly meant for use within their own tribe.
  • Because of the abundant availability of cane and wood in Arunachal, pottery never gained popularity.
  • Another reason for its relative under development is the nonavailability of suitable clay in this region. However, several tribes like the Monpas, Sherdukpens, Apatanis, Nlishis, Noctes, Wanchos, Adis, Khampas and Mombas practise for art.
  • Among the pottery work, the beautiful clay images of Lord Buddha made by the Monpas, Mombas and Khampas are specially mentionable.

Other Crafts

  • Paper making, smithy work, carpentry, pottery and ivory work are the other crafts practiced by the Arunachalis.
  • The Monpas make paper locally, from pulp of trees called Sukso or the paper trees.
  • This hand made paper is used for writing religious prayers on them. Hunting, fishing also form the subsidiary occupations

 

Art Forms of Arunachal Pradesh

Art Forms of Arunachal Pradesh

  • The art refers to the theory and physical expression of creativity found in human societies and cultures from Ancient Time in India. Major constituents of the arts include
  1. Literature – including poetry, novels and short stories, and epic poetry;
  2. Performing arts – among them music, dance, and theatre; and
  3. Visual arts – including drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, sculpting, and architecture – the art of designing and constructing buildings

Performing Art Forms of Arunachal Pradesh

  • The performing Art Forms of Arunachal Pradesh domain of intangible cultural heritage includes vocal and instrumental music, dance, theatre, pantomime, sung verse and beyond.
  • This domain is inseparably related with other intangible cultural heritage domains; like music is an integral part of many other domains of intangible cultural heritage including rituals, festive events or oral traditions.
  • Music can be performed in any situations: marriages, funerals, rituals, festivities etc. Diverse contexts, many dimensions or varied performing occasions make music universal.
  • Dance illustrates specific events or daily acts, such as religious dances, hunting or warfare dance etc. The rhythmic movements, steps and gestures of dance express sentiments and moods.
  • Traditional theatre performances generally combine acting, singing, dancing, dialogue, narration or recitation but may also include puppetry or pantomime.
  • Traditional theatres play crucial roles in culture and society and they are more than simply ‘performances’ for the audiences.
  • The performing arts of Arunachal Pradesh are vivaciously colorful. They dance for merriment, festive & rituals, and wars or even for funeral.
  • The dances, performed by the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, have been broadly divided into four groups.
  • The first group is the ritual dances which are a part of a ritual. This group may again be divided into five subgroups.
  • The first subgroup of the ritual dances includes those dances which are performing to secure prosperity, good health and happiness of the dancer, his family, village or the whole community in various rituals.
  • The second subgroup comprises those dances performed in ceremonies related to agriculture and domestication of animals to secure a good harvest and increase of domestic animals respectively.
  • The third subgroup is associated with the funeral ceremony when the soul is prevented from hunting its old house and guided by the priest to its abode in the land of the dead.
  • It is generally believed that if the soul returns to its old home, the family suffers diseases and deaths.
  • The fourth subgroup consists of the fertility dances where the imitation of the movements of coition is believed to promote fertility.
  • War dances make the fifth subgroup, which are on the decline with the stoppage of the internecine feuds and raids. The war dance used to be prevalent among almost all the non-Buddhist tribes.

Traditional craftsmanship of Art Forms of Arunachal Pradesh

  • Perhaps the most tangible manifestation of intangible cultural heritage is traditional craftsmanship, though it is mainly concerned with the skills and knowledge involved in craftsmanship rather than the craft products themselves.
  • The objects are varied in form and type- from delicate, detailed art to rugged and sturdy tasks and from used for a short time, such as for festive events to the objects that are passed from generation to generation.Art Forms of Arunachal Pradesh
  • There are numerous forms of traditional craftsmanship: tools; clothing and jewellery; costumes and props for festivals and performing arts; storage containers, objects used for storage, transport and shelter; decorative art and ritual objects; musical instruments, household utensils and toys, both for amusement and education.
  • The people of Arunachal Pradesh present an extraordinary tradition of artistic craftsmanship which manifests itself through their various products.
  • From the perspective of art and crafts, the region may be divided into three zones.
  • The Buddhist tribes include in the first zone, the second cultural zone occupies the central part from East kameng to Lohit and the third zone is formed by the south-eastern part of the state.
  • A variety of crafts i.e. weaving, painting, pottery, smithy work, wood carving, bamboo-work and cane-work are practiced by the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The people of the first zone make beautiful masks. Beautiful woolen carpets, woolen and yak-hair caps, shoes, painted wooden vessels and silver articles are the specialties of the Monpas.
  • They are also experts at dyeing and painting. Wooden masks are made by the Khambas and Membas.
  • In the second zone, the people are skilled in cane and bamboo work.
  • The Nyishis, Apatanis, Hill Miris and Adis make beautiful articles from these materials, like Hats of different sizes and shapes, various kinds of baskets and a variety of cane belts and necklaces.
  • The people of the third zone, i.e., the Khamptis, Wanchos, Noctes are famous for their wood carving work. The Khamptis make beautiful religious images, toys and other objects.
  • The Noctes and Wanchos make beautiful strings of beads with attractive patterns and carve beautiful bamboo pipes and human and animal figures.
  • Making silver ornaments is the specialitiy of the Idu Mishmis of Dibang Valley.
  • The shawls and jackets of the Apatanis, the Adi skirts or gales, jackets and shoulder bags and the Mishmi coats and shawls are reflective of the weaving talents and artistic sense of these people.

Handloom Making Art Forms of Arunachal Pradesh

Handloom also forms an integral part of the rich art and craft and for most of women in the state, it is the primary occupation.

  • Women of 20 tribes and 100 sub-tribes in Arunachal work to manufacture products like skirt (Gale), shirt (Galuk) , cotton shawl, side bag, curtain cloth in different patterns, quality, traditional value, motive and design. Paintings is yet another important art that Arunachal Pradesh is proud of.
  • A special type of painting called Tangkha is prevalent in Buddhist dominated areas of the state like Tawang, West Kameng, and Upper Siang Districts.
  • The motif of these paintings is mainly a religious subject or that of a traditional value. Carpet weaving in Arunachal is mostly seen in the regions same as that of the painting making.
  • The carpets of the state has been acclaimed to be of National & International repute, which definitely adds a feather in the cap of Arunachal.
  • Apart from carpets, wall hanging , cushion pad, telephone pad, floor covering etc. are also handmade in the state.
  • One of the unique items coming from Arunachal is the Wangcho Bag, which is handmade by the women folk of Wangcho tribe of Tirap District.
  • Cotton and acrylic yarn is used for weaving the colourful geometrical pattern on the bag. Today, apart from the the trademark bags, the weavers are designing and different utilities like ladies and gents waist coat and dresses as well.
  • The Wangcho women also make grass necklaces with the help of seasonal reed that is found on river banks.
  • Along with this, necklace wristband, waist band , head gear and earring are also made in the Tirap district.

Famous Tangkha painting of Art Forms of Arunachal Pradesh Tangkha painting is one of the most artistic craft; it is prevalent mainly in Buddhist dominated area like Tawang, West Kameng and Upper Siang Districts.

  • The motif of the painting is mostly religious subject along with traditional value.
  • It is a traditional form of Tibetan Buddhist art. Learning this craft can take three years and is part of a monk’s education.
  • Monks who have left monastic life can continue painting Tangkhas in craft centers like in Bomdila.

 

Paintings of Arunachal Pradesh

Paintings of Arunachal Pradesh

  • Indian paintings provide an artistic continuum that extends from the early civilization and culture to the present day.
  • From being essentially religious in purpose in the beginning, Indian painting has evolved over the years to become a fusion of various cultures and traditions.
  • The Indian painting was exposed to Greco-Roman as well as Iranian and Chinese influences.

 

Classification of Indian Paintings

  • Indian Paintings can be broadly classified as the mural paintings and miniature painting.
  1. Murals are huge works executed on the walls of solid structures, as in the Ajanta Caves and the Kailashnath temple. They are also called as wall paintings.
  2. Miniature paintings are executed on a very small scale on perishable material such as paper and cloth.

 

Famous Tangkha Paintings of Arunachal Pradesh

  • Tangkha painting is one of the most artistic craft; it is prevalePaintings of Arunachal Pradeshnt mainly in Buddhist dominated area like Tawang, West Kameng and Upper Siang Districts.
  • The motif of the painting is mostly religious subject along with traditional value.
  • It is a traditional form of Tibetan Buddhist art. Learning this craft can take three years and is part of a monk’s education.
  • Monks who have left monastic life can continue painting Tangkhas in craft centers like in Bomdila.

 

Weaving Pattern in Paintings of Arunachal Pradesh

  • It is not known when the people of Arunanchal Pradesh learned the art of weaving. According to one of the legends, the art of weaving was learnt in a dream from the goddess Podi Barbi.
  • A Galo song narrates a full story of how the cotton is grown, plucked, spun and how it is woven with cotton yarn in a loom.
  • The song, which is sung with the dance by the village girls, narrates that in the olden days when the cotton was not grown and the people had not enough clothes, they started the cultivation of cotton.Paintings of Arunachal Pradesh
  • Thus weaving among the people of Arunachal Pradesh is as old as the story itself. The people knew of clothes as a means of protecting themselves against the rigours of the climate.
  • The women of this area are good weavers and they have a good colour choice and artistic designs of their own.
  • The colour and design have their symbolic meaning among some of the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The use of certain kinds of clothes and ornaments is often associated with a family’s social position and achievements in the fields of hospitality and war.
  • Though there has not been much external influence on the designs of the fabrics in Arunachal Pradesh there has been some borrowing of motifs from the neighbouring areas.
  • The motifs, designs and patterns, however are quite complex and their symbolic meaning and usages are rather significant.
  • The elaborate processes of spinning, dying and finally weaving remind us of the rich discoveries of the women, who were supposed to weave respective clothes for their families.

Common Feature of Tribal Paintings of Arunachal Pradesh

Wall Painting

  • The tradition of wall paintings has been passed down from pre-historic times to today.
  • As society moved from forest dwellings to agricultural-based communities, the art of painting continued as a part of their life, tradition, culture and to transmit their traditional beliefs through their art.
  • Wall painting forms part of the universal culture of most agricultural societies and forest dwelling societies.
  • Paintings are done on walls to invoke the gods to bless the soil, keep animals healthy for work in the field, grant a family healthy progeny after marriage, and bless a newly constructed home.
  • Paintings found on the walls of religious buildings depict a human quest to understand a larger universe, natural life and power

 

Wood Carving Paintings of Arunachal Pradesh

  • Wood carving is a tradition with some of the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The Monpas, Khamtis, Wanchos, Phom, Konyak tribes occupy significant place in this art.
  • Wood carving like in the case of Nagaland finds expression mainly under three categories;firstly, with head hunting, secondly with the decoration of the morungs or men`s youth dormitory and thirdly, the funerary images erected for warriors and other important person.
  • In carving of the human figure, special attention is paid to the head. The features are carved in low relief and are fairly realistic.
  • Usually the image depicting a warrior is decorated with special cowerie belt and several other artefacts.
  • The top of the head is rounded and usually has some indication of hair-cut. Tattoo marks are carefully represented, and most figures are dressed up with little bits of cloth and even ornaments with tufts on head or beads in the ear.
  • Wancho woodcarvers have deep sense of proportion, despite their pre-occupation with the head.
  • Of late departure from the traditional fixed form is noticed in many carved figures. Symmetrical postures are replaced by assymetrical ones, relief works are experimented in various themes.
  • The Monpa wood carver make beautiful cups, dishes, fruit bowls and carve magnificant masks for ceremonial dance and pantomimes.
  • The Sherdukpen The Khampa and the Monpa make masks which appear almost like real faces, while other represent birds and animals and some represent apes and men twisted mouths, women with goire to drive away the evil spirit.
  • The masks are made of a single block of wood hollowed inside; holes are usually but not always, made for eyes and mouths; most masks are painted, but the older ones are generally found dark and discoloured.
  • Women never wear the mask which are used only by men and boys.

 

Carpet Making Paintings of Arunachal Pradesh: 

  • The Carpet Making is one of the important occupations in the districts of Tawang, West Kameng, Changlang and Upper Siang. Carpet making is the specialty of the Monpas.
  • They weave lovely colorful carpets with dragon, geometric and floral designs. Carpet weaving has today become a major occupation of the womenfolk and with an increase in demand; production of the carpets is now being undertaken on large scale.
  • The Arunachal Pradesh’s carpet has been acclaimed to be of National & International repute by considering the quality of carpet weaving in different motive and design.
  • The items produced are wall hanging, cushion pad, telephone pad, floor covering, etc. These are being promoted through Government Craft Centre with provision for training.

 

Pottery Crafting Paintings of Arunachal Pradesh: 

  • Pottery is another area which finds artistic expression in the life of the Arunachalis.
  • Some brilliantly designed products like vessels, vases and earthenware, which are a collector’s item, can be found in the state.
  • The craftsmen also use multicolored beads, feathers of birds and wings of the green beetles in many of the crafts as an embellishment.
  • Dafla women are skilled in this craft.
  • The legend is that Abo Takam was the first Dafla potter and from him the art passed on to the women.

 

Ornaments: 

  • Ornaments making is another craft widely practiced in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Besides heads of various colors and sizes blue feathered wings of birds and green wings of beetles are used in decoration.
  • The Akas make bamboo bangles and ear ornament which are sometimes decorated with pucker work design.
  • The Wancho girls particularly are very excellent in beads work. Various ornaments of colored glass beads hold a special fascination for the people of state.
  • Silver ornaments are a specialty of the Mishmis.
  • The Idu Mishmi women wear silver fillet necklace with lockets and beautiful earrings. The Sherdukpens and the Khamptis at one time were also renowned for silver work

 

arunachal pradesh industries

Arunachal pradesh industries:- Arunachal Pradesh has several small and medium scale industries based on forest products. The industries include plywood, rice mills, fruit preservation units and handicrafts. The state has its own mineral development and trading corporation which looks after the fair transportation and exploration of various minerals. The Corporation also gives an industrial shape to its mineral products. The state has 12 industrial estates, established across districts. To support industrial growth, the State Government has also notified integrated infrastructure development centres, industrial growth centres and industrial areas.

Key Industries are Arts and Crafts, weaving, cane and bamboo, carpet weaving, wood carving, ornaments, tourism and horticulture.

Arts and Crafts

Arunachal Pradesh has a rich tradition of Bamboo and Cane Handicrafts and also Wood Carving and Carpet Weaving. The products reflect the rich and varied culture of the tribes inhabiting this enchanting State and the products featured are representative of the wide range of Handicrafts produced in the State.

Handloom forms an integral part of the culture and tradition, which is reflected in the State’s apparels. Some of these are unique Handloom products in artists weaving and design. Most of the Women folk of the state have been engaged in Handloom sector  treated as primary occupation. A wide variety of crafts such as weaving painting, pottery, smithy work, basketry, woodcarving etc. are found among the people of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Department of Textile & Handicraft(s) has been set-up to develop  this sector to uplift the economic condition as well as to provide self employment opportunity to the Weaver and artisan of the  State through various Development Schemes/Projects.

Cane & Bamboo

The traditional Cane Bamboo product are mainly available in the Districts of East Kameng. Papumpare, Changlang, Upper and Lower Subansiri, East and West Siang, Lohit and Dibang Valley which represents high premium on design, quality, local technology and focus cultural indentity. The famous cane cap & head gear are available for different tribe of the State. While carrying Basket, Marketing Basket, varieties of design & utility product viz. Cane chair, Cane Table, Cane Racks, Cane Cradle, Cane Murrah , Designer Cane Tray etc. available in different marketing outlet in the State as well as out side the State.

Wood Carving

 

The unique, and artistic indigenous wood carving articles are available of Tirap, Upper & West Siang, Lohit and Tawang.

 It is practiced by very limited artisans / craftsman of the above mentioned districts, both passed out trainees form the Deptt. Craft center as well as traditional artisans.The main raw-materials used are locally available wood.

Traditional Male and Female Wooden figure are depicted as main subject, warriors / head hunters are popular in Tirap District Wood Carving, originally such wood carvings were used to decorate “MORANG” (Youths Dormitory ) & modernized as decorative collection items where as different types of Wooden Musk and goddess figure are depicted as main subject considering the cultural & religious value, which are popular in the district of Upper and East Siang , Lohit & Tawang.

Being promoted through Govt. Craft Centres with provision for training. Passed out trainees are engaged as production worker in departmental promotional schemes.

Traditional Ornament Products

Beads ornaments of various types are found in all over Arunachal Pradesh . However weaving or decorating small beads ornament are predominatory found in Tirap District. The unique beads ornaments and grass necklece products are mainly available in Tirap & Changlang districts which signify higher cultural and Traditional value.

The Beads ornaments making practiced by women folk , the main raw-material used in “GRASS BEADS” of very higher quality normally imported from other country .

All type of ornaments viz. Necklace Wrist band, Waist band , Head gear, earring are made with beautiful geometrical pattern used both by male and female.

Being promoted through Govt. Craft Centres while provision for training and passed out trainees are engaged as production worker.

Carpet

The carpet making is one of the important occupation in the districts of Tawang, West Kameng, Changlang, Upper Siang. The women folk are engaged in this trade. The Arunachal Pradesh’s carpet has been acclaimed to be of National & International repute by considering the quality of carpet weaving in different motive and design. The items produced are wall hanging , cushion pad, telephone pad, floor covering etc. These are being promoted through Govt. Craft Centre with provision for training. Passed out trainees are engaged as production worker in the industry.

Handloom

Arunachal Pradesh can be called store House of Handloom designs as its 20 major tribes and more then 100 sub-tribes has got   unique and appealing Handloom designs.  The products are , Skirt (Gale), Shirt (Galuk) , cotton shawl, side bag, curtain cloth etc, in different pricing pattern according to the quality, traditional value, motive and design.arunachal pradesh   industries

Tourism

Arunachal Pradesh has tremendous scope for development of various types of tourism activities, such as Cultural tourism, Adventure tourism, Historical tourism, Wildlife tourism, Nature based tourism and Eco-tourism. Any developmental programme tapping the latent tourism potential of the state, need to be based on sound understanding of the ground realities and the general of basic infrastructure development.

Inspite of vast tourism potential, Arunachal Pradesh so long remained unexplored to the outside world due to general backwardness of the area in terms of low road length, absence of rail links and airstrips, remoteness and inaccessibility of the area, lack of infrastructural development which holds the progress of development in check and the imposition of Restricted Area Perrmit (RAP)/Protected Area Permit (PAP) and Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.

Industrial Policy

  • The State Government will encourage the establishment of industrial undertakings in the private and cooperative sectors for the sustainable development of the state.
  • Employment opportunities and gainful self-employment in industrial and allied sectors for the local populations of Arunachal Pradesh will be given priority.
  • Investors from outside the state will be encouraged to invest in the state. Hundred percent equity ownership of an industrial unit by entrepreneurs will be allowed for a maximum period of 30 (thirty) years by the end of which period such equity holding will be reduced to 49 percent, the remaining 51 percent will be held by a local Arunachal Tribal entrepreneur or a group of local tribal entrepreneurs or the state government, if it considers necessary to do so.
  • Outside entrepreneurs may be allowed to hold land on lease for a period of 30 years, after which the lease may be renewed for a further period of 30 days. The consideration for the lease may be in the form of annual or lump sum payments or as equity. (The lease may be used as security for loans from financial institutions.)
  • Development of all industries will be encouraged. To begin with, the following industries will have priority.
  • Industries based on locally available raw materials.
  • Textiles (handlooms and power looms) and handicrafts.
  • Electronics and knowledge based industries.
  • Industries based on non- timber forest produce.
  • Infrastructure, such as power and communications.
  • Tourism
  • Medical services
  • Educational services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Introduction to Arunachal Pradesh Economy

An Introduction to Arunachal Pradesh Economy

Arunachal Pradesh – State profile

  • Covering an area of 83,743 sq km, Arunachal Pradesh is the largest state in the Northeast India.
  • The state is located in the extreme Northeastern corner of the country. It shares its border with the neighbouring countries of Bhutan in the West, China (Tibet) in the North and Northeast, Myanmar in the East and Southeast and the Indian states of Assam and Nagaland in the South.
  • Itanagar is the state capital. Arunachal Pradesh has 16 administrative districts.
  • Naharlagun, Tawang, Tezpur, Bomdila, Ziro, Pasighat and Tezu are the major towns in the state.
  • Brahmaputra is the major river flowing through the state. Other smaller rivers include Kameng, Subansiri, Lohit and Tirap.
  • The most commonly spoken languages are Assamese, Bengali and Hindi. English is the primary medium of education in the schools

Rich and varied agro-climatic conditions

  • Undulating topography and varied agro-climatic conditions offer vast potential for horticulture and growing a variety of fruits, vegetables, spices, aromatic and medicinal plants, flowers and mushroom.

Policy and fiscal incentives

  • The state offers a wide range of fiscal and policy incentives and assistance for businesses under the State Industrial Policy, 2008. Additionally, the state has sectorspecific policies for industries related to power and agriculture.

Facilitating industrial infrastructure

  • The state has 12 industrial estates, established across districts. To support industrial growth, the State Government has also notified integrated infrastructure development centres, industrial growth centres and industrial areas.

International trade opportunities

  • The geographic location of the state provides immense opportunities for international trade with the South Asian countries through its shared borders with Myanmar, Bhutan and China.

Key industries in Arunachal Pradesh

  • The resources, policy incentives and climate in the state support investments in mining and mineral products (including cement), tissue culture and floriculture, plantation crops (tea, rubber, etc.) and agro-based industries.
    • The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited is engaged in catalysing the industrial growth of the Northeastern region (including Arunachal Pradesh) by providing counselling, timely advice and assistance for building quality enterprises.
    • The Department of Industries, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, is responsible for promoting industrial activities in the state to provide employment opportunities to the rural and urban people.
    • The Department of Industries has set up district industries centres (DICs) and sub-district industries centres (sub-DICs) for the industrial development of small scale, tiny and village industries.
  • Key industries in Arunachal Pradesh
  • Art and crafts
  • Weaving
  • Cane and bamboo
  • Carpet weaving
  • Wood carving
  • Ornaments
  • Tourism
  • Horticulture
  • Saw mills and plywood

Employment profile of Arunachal Pradesh

  • The primary sector employs around 67.4 per cent of the total workforce in Arunachal Pradesh, followed by tertiary sector (23.9 per cent) and secondary sector (8.7 per cent).
  • Around 94 per cent of the state‟s population lives in the rural belt. Thus, agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Of the total workforce, 60.4 per cent are cultivators with self-owned land and only 5.1 per cent of the workforce falls in the agricultural labourer category.

Cereals, oil seed and sugarcane are the key agricultural products

  • In 2009-2010, total production of cereal crops was 325,000 tonnes, compared to 306,500 tonnes in the previous year.
  • Major cereal crops of the state are rice, maize, millet, wheat and pulses (pea, kidney-bean and black-gram).
  • Non-cereal crops include ginger, oil seed and sugarcane, apart from vegetables.

Road network

  • Arunachal Pradesh has a road density of 17.36 km per 100 sq km.
  • Six National Highways run through Arunachal Pradesh, connecting the state with the rest of India as well as the international borders with China (Tibet), Myanmar and Bhutan.

Airports and railways

  • In December 1995, the State Government introduced passenger flight services by nine-seat Dauphin helicopters to overcome the constraints posed by the hilly terrain.
  • Later a 23-seat MI-172 type helicopter had been added to the fleet, primarily to operate between Guwahati in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The service also connects 29 major towns including Naharlagun, Tawang, Ziro, Pasighat, Bomdila, Seppa, Daporijo, Along, Yingkiong, Roing and Tezu.
  • A greenfield airport has been proposed near Itanagar, for which environmental clearance has been received in April 2010. Ministry of Civil Aviation has also planned to operationalise airports at Daporijo and Tezu.
  • The nearest railway station is located at Harmoti in Assam, 23 km from Naharlagun and 33 km from Itanagar.

Industrial infrastructure

  • Arunachal Pradesh has 12 industrial estates located in different districts and spread over total area of 55.6 hectare. These industrial estates have been developed in land-areas ranging from 4,540 to 202,325 square metre, with the primary objective of growth and development of small scale industries.
  • In addition, the State Government has also notified integrated infrastructure development centres, industrial growth centres and industrial areas to support industrial growth.
  • The State Government has set up district industries centres (DICs) in all 16 districts. These DICs play a vital role in the industrial development by providing services to the entrepreneurs viz., identification of suitable schemes, preparation of project report, arrangement for providing required plant, machinery and raw-material, assistance in availing incentives and facilities provided by both central and state governments, liaison with all development departments and financial institutions to provide assistance to the prospective entrepreneurs.
  • Based on availability of resources, the State has identified thrust areas for industrial development:
  • Industries based on agricultural, horticultural and plantation produce.
  • Industries based on non-timber forest produce such as bamboo, cane (rattan), medicinal plants/herbs, aromatic grass, tea and coffee.
  • Industries based on locally available raw-materials except timber.
  • Textiles (handlooms and power-looms), handicrafts and sericulture.
  • Electronics and IT-based enterprises.
  • Mineral-based industries (such as ferro-alloys, cement, etc.)
  • Facilitation and development of industrial infrastructure including power, communications, etc., under public private partnership
  • Food processing industries.
  • Engineering and allied industries (rolling mill, steel mill, etc.).

State Industrial Policy, 2008

  • Aim: To facilitate and promote the growth of industry, employment and investment in the state.

Key initiatives:

  • To create an investment-friendly environment in the state for industrial growth in the private, joint and cooperative sectors for sustainable economic development of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • To generate employment opportunities in the state.
  • To make Arunachal Pradesh a preferred destination for outside investors.
  • To encourage local entrepreneurs to set up enterprises based on locally available raw-materials.
  • To promote export-oriented industrial units.
  • To take steps to promote the handloom and handicrafts industry.
  • To promote local investors through joint ventures with outside investors.
  • To encourage industrial units producing high value products.
  • To ensure fast-track clearance of industrial proposals

Hydro Power Policy – 2008

Objectives:

  • To harness hydropower potential of the state in a manner that is consistent with the provision of the Electricity Act, 2003 and the National Electricity Policy and other policies formulated in the Act.
  • To develop hydropower projects in eco-friendly manner causing minimum distress to the affected people.
  • To accelerate the pace of hydropower development through participation of both the central public sector undertakings and private power developers, as also by formulating public private partnership.
  • To provide for creation of social and development infrastructure through hydropower development.
  • To ensure proper rehabilitation and resettlement of people affected by projects in order to improve their living standards.
  • To create job opportunities for local tribal people specially for those affected by the project

Small Hydro Power (SHP) Policy, 2007

Aim: To facilitate and promote the growth of small hydro power plants and, thereby, increase employment opportunities in the state.

Key initiatives:

  • Private participation in development of SHPs with targeted incentives.
  • Formulation and notification of an action plan for SHP generation. The action plan to provide programmes for capacity addition and determine the extent of involvement of various stakeholders of State Government or agencies in the field.

North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), 2007

Aim: To promote the Northeast region as an attractive investment region through concessions and incentives.

Key features:

  • Industries covered under this policy are eligible for incentives for a period of 10 years from the date of commencement of commercial production.
  • All new units as well as existing units that undergo substantial expansion (minimum 25 per cent increase in fixed capital) and start production before 2017 would qualify for incentives.
  • Incentives would be available for all existing industrial units and upcoming units anywhere in the Northeast.
  • A high-level monitoring committee or advisory committee would oversee the implementation of the NEIIPP.
  • NEIIPP would not be applicable to peripheral activities such as preservation while in storage, cleaning, packing, re-packing, labelling or re-labelling, sorting, etc.
  • North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NeDFI) to act as the nodal agency for disbursal of subsidies.
  • NEIIPP, 2007, has replaced the North East Industrial Policy, 1997

Agriculture Policy, 2001

Aim: To achieve higher economic growth and create job opportunities for the rural unemployed through agriculture and allied sectors.

Key initiatives:

  • Top priority to be accorded on increasing farmers‟ income.
  • Addressing problems related to shifting (jhum) cultivation.
  • Location-specific strategy development – area specific and differentiated strategy.
  • Convergence of allied activities by making a shift from a commodity approach to a system approach in agriculture.
  • Technology transfer.
  • Supply of inputs such as seed, fertiliser, pesticides, agri-tools and implements and credit to farmers at reasonable rates.
  • Facilitating private investment in agriculture, especially for establishing agro-based industries.
  • People‟s participation through formation of “self-help groups” and village committees at several levels.
  • Research and technology package for location-specific agricultural research based on identified agro-climatic zone.
  • Marketing infrastructure and techniques, especially for preservation, storage and transportation.
  • Priority on setting up agro-processing units in key production areas.
  • Market intervention scheme involving procurement by a notified agency to assure remunerative prices to farmers

Mineral-based industry

  • Arunachal Pradesh has considerable mineral reserves, which offers immense potential.
  • The state has reserves of coal at Bhalukpong; graphite at Tahila, Bopi and Khetabari; limestone at Hunli, Tidding, Menga and Pagin; marble at Hunli, Tezu, Pyuli and Dora; dolomite at Kaspi and Rupa; and lead and zinc at Shergaon.
  • These minerals are useful in the gasified form or in cooking, fertiliser plants, refractory units and calcium carbide manufacturing units.
  • The state‟s mining activities are managed by the Arunachal Pradesh Mineral Development and Trading Corporation Limited (APMDTCL ).
  • Parsuram Cements, a subsidiary of APMDTCL, is one of the oldest resource-based companies, based out of Lohit.

Agriculture and forest-based industries

  • Major agro- and forest-based industries in the state relate to tea, fruit, timber and plywood industries.
  • Non-timber based industries include bamboo, cane and medicinal plants.
  • The industry is characterised by many regional players; several units have been set up by Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation (APFC), a government organisation.
  • APFC has taken up a project on capacity building for production of bamboo-based industrial intermediates at Poma village near Itanagar.
  • The State Industrial Policy, 2008 of Arunachal Pradesh lists agriculture and non-timber forest produce-based industries as thrust sectors.

Textile

  • Textile is a grass-roots industry in Arunachal Pradesh and provides employment to mainly, women. Most of the units are home-based and have small scale of operations.
  • Carpet making is one of the important occupations in the districts of Tawang, West Kameng, Changlang and Upper Siang. The state‟s carpets have received national and international repute owing to their quality.
  • The carpet weaving industry is promoted through the Government Craft Centre.
  • The state has unique and appealing handloom designs from each of its tribes. The products include skirt (gale), shirt (galuk), cotton shawl, side bag and curtain cloth.

Key nodal agencies in Arunachal Pradesh

Department of Industries

  • The Department of Industries is the main executive and regulatory agency, functioning under the State Government. It oversees and monitors the over all industrial development activities in the state.
  • The department is engaged in various activities such as:
  • Registration of industries regulation and development of industries.
  • Providing finance to small scale and other industries.
  • Distribution of scarce and indigenous raw-materials to different industrial units.
  • Other industrial development related activities.

Arunachal Pradesh Industrial Development and Financial CoAn Introduction to Arunachal Pradesh Economyrporation Limited (APIDFC)

  • APIDFC was incorporated under the Companies Act,1956, in August 1978, to promote and finance industries in Arunachal Pradesh.

Arunachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency (APEDA)

  • APEDA is the state designated agency (SDA) for implementation and enforcement of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, in coordination with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India.
  • APEDA is also the state nodal agency for projects connected with clean development mechanism (CDM)

Arunachal Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board (APKVIB)

  • APKVIB was constituted by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh in 1989, with the mission to create employment opportunities in the non-farm sector in the rural areas, to promote saleable articles and support rural development to improve quality of life.
  • The industries under its purview include khadi (silk, cotton, woollen), minerals, forest- and agro-based industries, polymer and chemical, engineering and non-conventional energy, textile industry and service sectors.

North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NeDFI)

  • NeDFI was promoted by Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI), Industrial Credit and Infrastructure Corporation of India (ICICI), Unit Trust of India (UTI), Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC) and its subsidiaries and State Bank of India (SBI).
  • Incorporated in August 1995, NeDFI has its headquarter in Guwahati, Assam.
  • NeDFI provides facilities such as project and equipment finance, working capital finance, schemes for development of entrepreneurial skill and market development for products from the Northeast.

Power

  • Arunachal Pradesh had a total installed power capacity of 201.9 MW, under the state and central sector. While 83.3 MW of installed capacity was under state sector, 118.6 MW was under central sector.
    • Hydro power is the major source of electricity generation in the state, contributing around 97.6 MW, followed by 67.4 MW of renewable energy resources and 36.9 MW of thermal power.
    • Arunachal Pradesh has been focusing on developing its huge hydro power potential. The state has set up the Department of Hydro Power Development to oversee, coordinate and monitor hydro power development.
    • The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with central sector power generators and integrated power developers (IPD) for the development of 135 hydroelectric power plants, with an aggregate capacity of 25,722 MW