The National Institute of Design, a leading multi-disciplinary institute in the field of design education and research, aims to improve and develop the designs of products produced in the clusters of the North- East region, and hence it plans to start its Centre at the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) at Guwahati.

Clustering is a measure that is adopted to ease assimilation of micro, small and medium enterprises into the domestic and global arena. Guwahati based IIE, is at the forefront of cluster development in the region since last four years.

Sriparna B. Baruah, Head of Regional Resource Centre at IIE, while speaking at a press conference said that, NID would help in upgrading the designs of several items that are prepared in different clusters of the region.

Baruah while speaking on the success of the clusters in the North-Eastern region stated that, Manipur based Imphal East handloom cluster can be quoted as an example of the same.

People working in this cluster who initially drew Rs. 30 per day are now earning Rs. 90 per day. Earlier, they were required to purchase yarn from a distant market but now, they have an option to purchase the same from the yarn bank which has been set up in the cluster itself.

Designers who have generated over 200 new designs, have given a new look to the Manipuri textiles, Baruah said and added that, apart from development of new designs, the designers have even diversified the Manipuri handloom items to develop its alternative usages as per the requirements and demands of non-domestic consumers.

She further stated that, their aim was to upgrade the traditional clusters into industry clusters, and to set up common facility centres in already existing clusters, mainly in Assam. Also they plan to venture into clusters existing in the urban areas.