During the International Vichar Mahakumbh being held to give a global message to world at Ninaura near Ujjain on Thursday, subject experts undertook serious contemplation measures to promote cottage industry. Presiding over the session, Chairman of Chhattisgarh Finance Commission Chandrashekhar Sahu said that cottage industry is the biggest means of employment. A strategy needs to be chalked out for skill augmentation, marketing and proper use of local resources to promote cottage industry.
Jagadanand from Odisha said that cottage industry should be made beneficial for associating youths with it. Handicraft and textiles form about 78 percent of cottage industry. This sector has immense possibilities of employment.
IITian Pradeep Sharma said that small factories in villages i.e. cottage industries are controlled by society whereas society is being controlled by major factories. He informed that income of a Kalgariya 'ironsmith' in year 1859 was more than a software engineer of the present times comparatively. He said that due to negligence towards this, artisans associated with this trade are working as labourers in major factories. Shri Sharma said that direct use of natural resources is cottage industry while production of resources by inventing them is industry.
S Bedi from Pune said that 84 percent population of India is associated with cottage industry in some way. She shared her experiences about cottage industries from Uttarakhand to Kachh. She said that fiscal management is needed for capacity building of cottage industry.
Dilip of Wardha said that foundation of cottage industry lie in society. He said that water, forests and land should be seen as a single identity instead of separate elements. Fish farming should be promoted. Dilip stressed the need of resource management.
Director of AISECT University Shambhuratan Awasthi said that villages need to be made self-reliant. He said that it is possible only through development of cottage industry.
BK Kale informed about ongoing works in cottage industry sector. A section of the audience demanded that entrepreneurship should be taught in schools from class I itself. Speakers also gave replies to questions of the audience.