Shillong Jan 14: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma handed over “Entrepreneur of the month” award to James Evantis Dkhar, who runs a weaving and textile production unit at Umroh, Mawkasiang.

Dkhar is the third recipient of the award, an initiative conceptualized by the Chief Minister to promote entrepreneurship in Meghalaya. The award carries a cheque of Rs. 1 lakh, a citation and a memento.

Handing over the award at the Chief Minister’s office in the presence of Dkhar’s family members, the Chief Minister lauded the works carried out by Dkhar to promote local textile and weaving.

“We have embarked on this initiative to create an environment of entrepreneurship and recognise people who have set an example in the society through hard work,” he said.

The Chief Minister also admitted that due to different challenges, many educated youth look at government jobs for their livelihood, while there are vast opportunities in different business venture.

“I am of the strong view that our initiative will yield results as we are not only recognising the entrepreneurs, but will also handhold them to ensure that their venture is taken to the next level,” the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister will soon visit the unit and tell his success story in the social media platform to encourage, promote and create awareness on entrepreneurship in Meghalaya.

Dkhar is a class XII passed first generation entrepreneur who always dreamt of doing something new and better in life. His first stint with handloom started about 10 years ago when he underwent training at Mendipathar in North Garo Hills district.

In 2014, Dkhar came into the ecosystem of the Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship, Shillong, which sent him for 10 days training on Dobby & Jacquard Machine at the Regional Silk Technology Research Station, Khanapara, another 10 days training to build Flying8 Loom Warping Mill at GIZ CCA NER Shillong, and also 3 months training on Silk Weaving at Central Silk Board, Bangalore.

Dkhar has also been trained in business development and is a graduate of the 3rd Batch Master Class 2018-19 of the Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship.

He started his own production unit with four looms and three weavers. In 2016 he went for training on the Flying8 Loom which was a turning point for him.

In 2018, with a loan of Rs. 20 lakh from the MIDC, he set up his own Training Centre on the Flying8 Loom at Umroh, Mawkasiang and named it the Nela Handloom Training Centre cum Production Unit which is the first Flying8 Loom Training Centre in India.

Today, the unit has become a primary source of his income and a source of direct employment for 17 unemployed youth in the field of textiles. From the Centre, James produces fabric which is bought by local buyers as well as from Germany. The Centre has also successfully trained 6 batches of weavers on the Flying8 Loom and after the training, these weavers are provided with a loom each, and Dkhar and his team then mentors them post the training and buys back or helps them to market their fabric.