Governor Shekhar Dutt on Saturday said that every person linked with handicrafts and hathkargha should get the status of artists.
The Governor also released the logo of Social Action Forum for Manav Adhikar (SAFMA) at a programme organised by the Chhattisgarh Hastshilp Development Board at Kondagaon district headquarters.
At the programme the Governor said that the artisan, who is linked with handicrafts, is really an artist also.
Dutt said that the institution which is providing marketing facility for the handicrafts should make the consumer or the purchaser know that who has made the art piece. Arrangement should be made to tag brief description of the artist, including his name and address etc, to the product so that other purchaser could also reach the artist, he added.
Dutt said that the tradition of ‘Dhokra Shilp’, which has been from the ages, should be kept alive and it is also necessary to protect this Boudhik Sampada. Besides, he said, the artist should get proper value of the product.
Dutt said that Chhattisgarh is known from these ages old arts. He said that time has come for listing of both the handicrafts and hathkargha.
Mentioning the name of internationally famous artist of Kondagaon, Jaidev Baghel, the Governor said that he, through his art work, had made the name of Dhokra art known to the world. He advised the artists and craftsmen to use the new technology in their work.
The Governor said that the cooperation of the National Institute of Design should be extended to these artists. The family members of the artists should be taught on how to develop marketing skill, he added.
While expressing her gratitude towards the Governor, Shekhar Dutt, member of National Women’s Commission and chairperson of SAFMA Charuvali Khanna said, in the time of globalisation and the changing economic situation, all should join for the protection of traditional handicrafts. She said that Dhokra Shilp is world famous and this artistic skill is hundreds of years old. But the artists who have been linked with this profession were not getting proper price of their hard work, she added.
local artists Meera Thakur, Rajendra Baghel, Sukhchand Khaduva, Sanjay Baghel, Ajay Mandavi and other presented their handicrafts memento to the Governor.