At least 925 terracotta artisans have been provided with electrical wheels by the Chhattisgarh Government under the Kumbhakar terracotta scheme in the current 2013-2014 financial year, an official statement said on Wednesday.
The new electrical wheels are now helping them to create different terracotta and clay items faster as they were earlier using hands to rotate the wheel. In an aim to empower the terracotta artisans and potters with improved technology, the State Government has taken several measures. The rural development department set up Chhattisgarh Mati Kala Board in March 2012 to help them improve their socio economic conditions in a systematic process.
At least 14,000 poor artisans and potters have been registered under the Kumbhakar terracotta scheme the State has launched. Rural development department officials said the artisans and potters creates many items including clay pots, cup, plates, lamps, and decorative images such as pen stand, god, goddesses, animal, birds, men and women.
The annual incomes of 925 artisans who have been provided with electrical wheels have increased by 20 per cent. They said the Government has decided to set up soon a Chiknai unit (polishing unit) in Raipur and Kondagaon district at an investment of Rs 52.50 lakh. Similarly the Government is setting up an emporium at Raipur and Rajnandgaon to provide selling space for the items produced by the artisans, at an investment of Rs 50 lakh. Similarly a budgetary allocation of Rs 6 crore has been made for the Mati Kala Board.