Kewzing entrepreneurs bag Best Stall award at NE Festival

Two youth, NT Luksom and Chewang Rinzing, both entrepreneurs from Kewzing in South Sikkim represented the State at the 2nd North East Festival held in Shillong from 07 to 09 April 2011 and put up a stall displaying handicrafts and handloom products from Sikkim. They won the “best exhibition stall” prize at the festival.
Dr. Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, not only handed over the award to the duo but also bought many of the exhibits put on display by Mr. Luksom assisted by Mr. Rinzing, which was an even bigger promotion.
The products, Mr. Luksom shares were a big hit with all the exhibits selling out in record time.
“Even the Meghalaya chief minister came and appreciated the products personally. He directed that similar training should be incorporated in his state too so that his youth can also take example from the state of Sikkim which is doing so well in the handicrafts and handlooms scenario,” Mr. Luksom shares.

The two were part of the Sikkim contingent taken to Shillong by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghathan, Sikkim, and the Department of Youth Affairs, Government of India
This was also the festival where the Sikkim contingent bagged second positions in the Guitar solo and painting competitions and also won a third prize for dramatics. The contingent was led by Zigmee Bhutia of Mangan.
The elated winners of the northeast exhibition category mention that the products that they displayed at the festival were bought from the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms and Nayuma Women’s Cooperative Society.
“We are promoting self help groups and this is a great time for us to develop into being one of the fore- runners in this field”, adds Mr. Luksom.
Speaking on the major thrust areas which the Craftsmen in the state need to concentrate on along with the different organisations supporting them, Mr. Luksom said “It is marketing of the products which we need and through exhibitions and festivals like these we can get noticed. This gives our youth the much needed exposure. Our products should be taken outside to be showcased and we hope to take this to the next level as well. In future, we will take it to Goa where the next youth festival is scheduled”.
Among the range of products from Sikkim which did well at the festival were ladies multi-purpose bags made of raw silk, scrolls, thankas, and tea which was sold out in the first day itself. It is informed that more products had to be sourced from Sikkim to meet the demand at the festival.
“We wish to thank JK Limbu the Zonal Director, of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghathan who motivated and nurtured us to receive this accolade at the national level. He is also instrumental in providing us with major platforms at this level. Even the first two times we participated in the National Youth Festivals held in Orissa and  Udaipur respectively we had come in the first three but this time we have created a niche by being declared the best exhibition stall for handicrafts and handlooms in the North East”, expresses Mr. Lucksom.