Handloom and handicraft being the largest employment generating sector next to agriculture, the Government on Thursday decided to set up 10 each handloom and handicraft clusters in the State.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while reviewing the progress in the handloom and handicraft sector at the State Secretariat asked the departmental authorities for early finalization of suitable locations and prepare detailed project report (DPR) for each cluster.
After the meeting, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik said the aim of setting up the clusters was to provide a large number of employments, enhance productivity and upgrade the economic as well as social status of the poor handloom weavers and handicraft artisans.
Besides, steps would be taken through the hubs to help upgrade the traditional craftsmanship of the artisans to cope with the market conditions.
Patnaik said that it was estimated to provide self employment to over 10 million handloom weavers and equal number of handicraft artisans by increasing their capacity building, providing training, skill upgradation, raw materials and market support.
He said that work for establishment of a museum for handloom and handicraft at Gandamunda in Bhubaneswar has been initiated.