The Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board sold craft items worth Rs 3.07 crores during 2014-15, officials here stated. The proceeds from sale includes items worth Rs 2.25 crore sold from Shabari Emporiums within and outside Chhattisgarh.

In the current financial year, a target of selling Rs 4 crore worth of handicrafts had been fixed by the Board. There are about 20,000 artisans currently engaged in making of various handicrafts in the State.

Notably, the Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board has targetted to train 1500 bamboo craftsmen this year. The Board is operating three special projects for development and upliftment of bamboo craftsmen in Chhattisgarh, officials stated.

The Central Government has sanctioned financial aid of Rs 4.20 crore lakh in fiscal year 2012-13 for the projects.

In the review meeting recently chaired by State Village Industries Minister Punnulal Mohle at the Mantralaya in Naya Raipur, the Board Officials informed that Special Bamboo Art Project has been initiated in Mohla-Manpur of Rajnandgaon district, Beltara of Bilaspur district, and Gariaband District Headquarters, wherein equipment, workshop building, warehouses, Haat and rooms for craftsmen have been constructed with the financial aid sanctioned by Central Government.

Officials informed that in the previous financial year 2014-15, 80 bamboo craftsmen of Rajnandgaon district and 40 bamboo craftsmen of Gariaband district were trained.

Handloom weavers from the economically weaker sections in Chhattisgarh are being provided local market access first in a bid to improve their lot through training and provision of other key amenities, officials stated.

About 2048 weavers have been benefitted during the past two years under the Village Industries Department's Integrated Handloom Development Scheme. The target for the current fiscal 2015-16 is to provide assistance to 1,251 beneficiaries.

A provision of Rs 3.50 crore has been made in the Budget. The Village Industries Department officials said that Integrated Handloom Development Yojana was launched in 2013-14 to provide financial assistance to the weavers.

Interestingly, the handicraft makers in insurgency infested Bastar region are now also being trained how to market their products. The initiative had been taken by Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board, officials stated

 In March this year, atleast 60 artisans from various districts of Bastar division participated in a two-day workshop on Marketing organised by Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board in the month of March this year.

The artisans  were from Jagdalpur, Parchanpaan, Kondagaon, Chilkuti, Deurgaon, who took part in the workshop. During the workshop, the artisans were told about where to sell their products and from where they could source the raw material for making the handicraft.

 The workshop was organised by the Office of Commissioner, Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board.