10 Days Traditional Artisans Cluster Development Trips Begin

Bhubaneswar, May 18: Odisha Khadi & Village Industries Board & National Institute for Fashion Technology Development starts a new innovative venture today by Initiating 10 days Traditional Artisan Cluster Development trips to 4 places of the State viz. Khairpadar in Kalahandi, Belaguntha in Ganjam District and Khalisahi & Kantilo in Nayagarh Districts.

Sri R.N.Mohapatra, Hon’ble advisor, State Planning Board, Sj. Anubhab Pattanaik, Hon’ble M.L.A, Khandapada & Sj Panchanan Dash, Secretary to Govt. in MSME Department, Odisha flagged off two trips of NIFT interns to Khalisahi & Kantilo in Nayagarh District to help promote design & Cluster evelopment for traditional Brass & Bel Metal artisans of both the areas. Sri Tejeswar Parida, President of the Board co-ordinated this significant event.

Earlier, two teams of NIFT Interns has already started their expeditions to Khairpadar in Kalahandi District and K. Nuagaon, Beluguntha in Ganjam to undertake Research & Survey on Cluster Development there on Wood Craft and Brass Fish making respectively.

It is worth mentioning that the Govt. of Odisha is going to launch a new scheme i.e.Special Employment Generation Scheme (SEGP) to provide financial & technical assistance to traditional artisans living in villages in order to create greater self-employment scopes for them. Brass Fish, Wooden Elephant, Brass & Belmetal articles, Golden Grass decors, Horn & Ivory Handicrafts, Dokra Castings etc. are some of the Village Industries items, which carries Odisha’s rare craftsmanship. Last year on the Board’s foundation Day Celebration the Hon’ble Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while inaugurating a special Exhibition of identical Village Industries products stressed upon design development and market support to Village Industries artisans.

This is the beginning of a new innovation to translate possibilities into reality and Odisha Khadi & Village Industries Board shall go ahead on its drive to empower Odisha’s artisan sector. To popularize sales of these products, the Board shall organise special Exhibitions inside the state and also outside the states in coordination with the respective state Khadi & Village Industries Boards.

Steps shall be taken for extensive implementation of this programme in the tribal dominated and Mao-affected districts to provide gainful self-employment for women, youth and socially backward people.