KVIC distributes electric wheels among potters
Varanasi: KVIC distributes electric wheels among potters. As many as 80 potters from four villages including Itahradih, Ahrauradih, Arjunpur and Chak Sahjangiganj were given electric wheels by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) at a programme held in Sevapuri area on Saturday. The electric wheels distributed online by KVIC chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena.
Each of these villages houses nearly 150 to 200 potter families who have been engaged with pottery-making for many generations. However, due to old techniques of hand driven Chaaks, drudgery involved in manual clay making and lack of marketing support, they took up alternative sources of livelihood over the years. KVIC has set a target of distributing 1500 potter wheels in Varanasi in the next three months.
KVIC distributes electric wheels among potters
The KVIC is also set to distribute 300 electric potter wheels and other equipment to 300 migrant workers’ families in Sewapuri in Varanasi who have returned from other states facing economic distress in wake of the Covid-19 lockdown. The KVIC has already trained 60 migrant workers’ families so far and pottery tool kit will be distributed to 300 families next month. This is estimated to create nearly 1200 jobs for the migrants labourers in Varanasi alone, said Saxena adding that the exercise aims at creating local jobs for the distressed migrant workers so that they don’t need to migrate to other cities in search of livelihood.
Potters in these villages of Varanasi have been specially making earthen magic lamps, traditional lamps (Deeya) and sculptures of Laxmi and Ganesh keeping in view the upcoming festivals of Dussehra and Deepawali. The idea is also to dissuade people from buying Chinese lights and other articles during the festive season.
KVIC distributes electric wheels among potters
KVIC is soon going to set up a cluster under SFURTI Scheme of the Ministry of MSME in Varanasi. The cluster will facilitate nearly 500 artisans to work together at a well-equipped place, said Saxena said. Varanasi is an aspirational district identified by the Niti Ayog and the KVIC has taken Sewapuri on a priority basis for development of Khadi and village industries activities and encouraging pottery by training the artisans. KVIC has so far distributed over 17,000 electric potter wheels across the country.
