The Hindu : National : Bastar artisans to get global identity

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Thursday, Jan 03, 2008
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Bastar artisans to get global identity

Aarti Dhar

KONDAGAON (Chhattisgarh): The artisans of Bastar are all set to get international identity — their names and villages will be mentioned on every item they make. An approximate 20,000 to 25,000 of them, known for their expertise in bell-metal, wood craft, terracotta and wrought-iron, will get identity cards from the government.

With the recent signing of six memoranda of understanding between non-government organisations and local panchayats under the Rural Business Hubs (RBHs) concept that was initiated by the Union Panchayati Raj Ministry, the Bastar handicrafts will have more access to markets.

According to Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh, in whose presence the MoUs were signed, employment opportunities and a larger market would lead to total development of the area.

“There is tremendous potential for promotion of Bastar handicrafts. It could also act as a social intervention in the naxalite-affected region. The idea is to bring this backward region on the handicrafts exports map and make it an engine for development,” he said.

Common facility centre

The government would focus on improving connectivity and increasing of production of handicraft items. A common facility centre that would provide financial service, quality control and design development service to the artisans would be set up. “The idea is to ensure that the benefit goes to the artisans families directly instead of the middlemen. If Bastar model is a success, it will be replicated elsewhere also,” Mr. Ramesh said.

The Kondagaon Block Panchayat proposes to establish a tie-up with Saathi, an NGO for producing and selling bell-metal handicrafts made by artisans of three villages. The Chhattisgarh State Handicrafts Development Board and State Bank of India would be involved in the initiative.

Of a total of Rs. 12,000-crore non-carpet handicrafts exported from the country last year, the contribution of Bastar handicrafts was only Rs. 30-40 crore.

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