The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected both demand and supply chain of commodities among the rural areas and has caused regular markets to function partially in accordance to the protocols imposed by the government, thereby causing economic hardships for many.
Ever since the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic in the early months of 2020, the world as we know it has changed forever. With strict lockdown administered in many countries worldwide, industries and economies have been hit hard and low during the first wave as well as the second wave.
NESFAS’ “No one shall be left behind” initiative supported by REC (Rural Electrical Corporation Ltd) Foundation kick-started in July 2018. The initiative aimed to enhance Indigenous Food Systems (IFS) that would significantly contribute to improved nutrition, food security, and sustainable livelihoods among 130 indigenous communities of Meghalaya and Nagaland.
Indigenous Peoples account for 6.2% of the global population and are custodians of vast diversity of unique cultures, traditions, language, knowledge and food systems. Every year, the 9th of August is celebrated as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This year, the UN has set the theme for the event as “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract”
The Department of Arts and Culture and the Department of Textiles, Govt. of Meghalaya, in collaboration with NESFAS, concluded the "Khneng Embroidery Competition" on the occasion of National Handloom August 7, 2021 at Mustoh village, East Khasi Hills.
Khneng embroidery is a 200 year-long tradition that is unique to Meghalaya and is also the only known traditional embroidery technique of the State. The word ‘Khneng’ roughly translates to ‘border’ in Khasi and the inspiration of the embroidery pattern is drawn from a local insect called ‘ktiar’ that resembles a centipede.
