The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Nagercoil News : Govt. plans 43 exhibitions to promote artisans

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Nagercoil

Govt. plans 43 exhibitions to promote artisans

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGERCOIL, JULY 22. The Government has decided to organise 43 exhibitions all over the country this year, according to G.R. Thampi, Assistant Director, Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).

The exhibitions, including heritage festival, craft bazaar, national-level mela and thematic craft bazaar, will be held in places including Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Noida, Srinagar, Hyderabad, Punjab, Shillong, Dargeeling, Guwahati, Gandhinagar in Gujarat, Agra, Patiala, Surajkund in Haryana, Goa, Jaipur, Gwalior, Allahabad, Udaipur, Jansi and Varanasi.

Speaking to The Hindu Mr. Thampi said the first thematic craft bazaar on children would be inaugurated in New Delhi in August. The yearlong festival would end with the heritage festival to be held in Ludhiana in April 2005. Over 150 artisans from different parts of the country would participate in these exhibitions.

Moreover, the Government decided to hold natural bazaars in New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai for two months, from September, to promote eco-friendly products. An exhibition on home decoration would be held in New Delhi and Pune in November. It was also planned to hold an exhibition of master creations in New Delhi by this year-end. National and state awardees as well as merit certificate-holders would participate in these exhibitions. Award-winning products would be put up for sale.

The department undertook a door-to-door survey to identify genuine artisans in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Theni districts, for their uplift. Identity cards were issued to 2,018 artisans to help them utilise the Centre's welfare schemes, the Assistant Director said.

The Government recently launched the Ambedkar Hastashilp Vikas Yojana to promote Indian handicrafts by developing artisan clusters into professionally managed and self-reliant community enterprises. The aim was to project a need-based integrated approach to sustainable development of handicrafts through the participation of craftsmen, leading to their empowerment. A sum of Rs. 35.67 lakhs was distributed to seven groups in Madurai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts for setting up member-controlled, community-based enterprises and upgrading of the skills of artisans through appropriate design and technology to help them use quality raw materials, tools and equipment to produce value-added items.

The Government also introduced an insurance scheme for artisans under the Janashree Bima Yojana and a group insurance scheme. Of the premium of Rs. 200, the beneficiary would bear Rs.40, and the Office of the Development Commissioner Rs. 60.

The rest would be drawn from the social security fund. A sum of Rs. 20,000 would be given to the beneficiary in case of death due to other than accidents, Rs. 50,000 in case of death due to accidents, Rs. 50,000 in case of permanent disability due to accidents, and Rs. 25,000 in case of partial permanent disability due to accidents. Under the group insurance cover, of a premium of Rs. 180, Rs. 90 would be borne by the beneficiary, and the rest by the Office of the Development Commissioner. A sum of Rs. 30,000 would be given in case of natural death or death due to accidents, said Mr. Thampi.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Govt. plans 43 exhibitions to promote artisans