Kashi-crafts get a major boost
Kashi-crafts get a major boost
Varanasi: The handicrafts artisans of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Kashi and adjoining areas will soon get a major boost to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. A fund of Rs. 2.8 crore has been approved for the ‘Integrated Project for Development and Promotion of Handicrafts of Varanasi’, an ambitious time and target bound of the Ministry of Textiles.
Major identified crafts based on the estimated number of artisans at each cluster are Zari/Zardozi, Terracotta, Wooden Handicrafts, Artificial Jewellery, Soap Stone etc. Institutional support is being provided under one umbrella with a measurable outcome and dovetailing various promotional schemes for impactful results.
The textile secretary Ravi Capoor gave a green signal to the project during a video conference on Monday and directed the district officials to start the project immediately after Dussehra festival.
During Covid-19 lockdown period, the divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal had sent the proposal of the implementation of the project under which the craftsmen of all the 10 GI (Geographical Indication) tagged goods of eastern UP would be covered.
Kashi-crafts get a major boost
The GI-tagged goods of eastern UP include Banaras brocade & saree, Handmade carpet of Bhadohi, Banaras gulabi meenakari craft, Varanasi wooden lacquerware & toys, Mirzapur handmade dari, Nizamabad black pottery, Banaras metal repoussé craft, and Varanasi glass beads, Soft stone undercut work and Ghazipur jute wall hanging.
The divisional commissioner will himself monitor the project. He nominated the joint commissioner (industry) Umesh Singh as the nodal officer of the project. Commissioner said that 2,000 artisans would be given latest tool-kits, while 1,200 artisans would be trained in different trades. Under training programme, a two-month training in ‘design and technical upgradation’ and ‘craft skill upgradation’, and a five-day ‘soft skill upgradation workshop’ would be held. Besides, a catalogue of handicrafts would also be prepared for publicity, said the commissioner adding that the project would be completed in a six-month time.
The GI expert and facilitator Dr. Rajni Kant of Human Welfare Association said that it would be a major milestone for the promotion of handicrafts of this region. “It is really excellent initiative for the GI-goods artisans of Varanasi region to combat Covid crisis,” he said adding that the project would create an example for post-GI initiatives like skill up-gradation, new product development, soft skill training, market linkages, and tool-kit to the genuine artisans who have been continuing their work in this crisis period for the protection and promotion of traditional livelihood.
