Promotion of handicraft is essential to strengthen rural economy and to encourage craftsmen said Rural Administration and Commercial Tax Minister Amar Agrawal.
He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of ‘Craft Bazaar-2016’ jointly organised by Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board and Union Ministry of Textiles here. The exhibition was inaugurated on January 2 and will conclude on January 11.
Aiming to provide opportunities and markets to craftsmen, the Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board and Central Government frequently hosts such exhibitions across the country, informed Agrawal.
Although, large industries are the necessity for country’s industrialisation but with promotion of cottage industries to cater demands of general consumers would result in flow of cash in rural areas, he said.
The price of handicrafts prepared by local craftsmen increases manifold after reaching branded showrooms, stated the Minister.
Agrawal further said that it is necessary to encourage industries including village industry, handloom, handicraft and Sericulture. Promotion of these industries would generate employment opportunities for people in rural areas.
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.
In the review meeting recently chaired by State Village Industries Minister Punnulal Mohle at the Mantralaya in Naya Raipur, the Board officials had 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.
Notably in March this year, the handicraft makers in insurgency infested Bastar region were also trained on how to market their handicraft products.
The initiative had been taken by Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board, officials stated
Recently, atleast 60 artisans from various districts of Bastar division participated in a two-day workshop on Marketing organised by Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board .
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.
Forest officials stated, the administration is training 100 artists about the developed bamboo designs in collaboration with Tripura Bamboo Mission in a two-month workshop, officials stated.
Meanwhile, 142 traditional artists are being trained in the 21 Processing Centres across the State. Among the list of Processing Centres, two are established in Bijapur.
likewise, two centres are functional in different parts of Raipur and one in Bastar and Dantewada districts respectively.