The State Government is contemplating to formulate an ‘Odisha Artisan Grade Stone Policy-2021’ for the benefit of artisans. Such a policy is a much felt need in the larger interest of the stone craft in the State in which more than 25,000 artisans are engaged.
Development Commissioner Pradeep Jena recently chaired a meeting to discuss the issues relating to the proposed policy framework as presented in the Draft Policy.
Jena emphasised on identification of artisan grade stone sources with involvement of geologists. He advised that OMC Managing Director to examine assignment of mining right, particularly of all sources irrespective of size as in the Draft Policy framework.
The proposed policy would look into a demand-supply estimation and gap analysis, identification of the sources through a mechanism with involvement of artisans, settlement of mining rights in favour of the OMC, modalities of the mining operation, supply of stone by the OMC through Utkalika to artisans’ individual/ groups/ cooperatives, safe-guard against smuggling, etc.