In a bid to provide long term, sustainable income generating employment opportunities to the potters of the State, the Jharkhand Matikala Board is all set to provide them training on the latest technology.
A total of 30,000 potters have been identified by the board till date in Jharkhand whose primary source of income is pottery.
Shrichand Prasad, Chairperson of the board said, "With the advent of latest technology in the field, our potters who use traditional methods are gradually being pushed towards poverty. Our aim is to make them well versed with the latest technology so that they can compete in the national and international market."
The board would be organizing seminars at district level where the potters would be made acquainted with modern technology like electric chaak or potter’s wheel, pug mill to mix the clay, jigger jolly to shape up the clay and others such machineries.
"These technologies are already being used by Matikala Board in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. They help in increase of production at a much lower investment and is time saving. The potters will also be made familiar with the importance of using organic paint on the clay made kitchen utensils," Prasad said.
The first seminar is being organized at Bishtupur in Gumla district on Tuesday wherein the first lot of 30 trained potters will be given certificates. An exhibition of the latest machineries will also be organized on the occasion.
"We are going to train 1000 potters in the state who will be the master trainers and will train other potters in their respective blocks and villages. We are also going to set up training centres in seven districts by the end of this month," Prasad said.
The board will also give a subsidy of 80 percent to the potters for buying electrical potter's wheel.
"Around 200 potters of Kolhan division are being given the electrical chaak on 80-20 share during the programme on Tuesday. Our aim is to provide the machine to 1500 potters by the end of March," the chairperson said.
Talking about the benefits of using clay utensils regularly Prasad said that it prevents from diseases like diabetes and cholesterol. “There is a huge demand for clay utensils in the market but the production is not sufficient. Once the production on large scale starts we will start marketing,” Prasad said.
He informed that outlets are provided for the products of Matikala Board in the showrooms of Jharcraft and Khadi Board.