The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Policies need to be artisan-centric’

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Thursday, Nov 13, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Policies need to be artisan-centric’

Staff Reporter

ADILABAD: Dr. T. Karunakaran, Director of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialisation (MGIRI) Wardha, Maharashtra opined that policies meant for the benefit of traditional artisans need to be artisan-centric. Uplift of this section of society was possible only through an attitudinal change among people involved in shaping the future of artisans, he added.

Delivering the J.C. Kumarappa memorial lecture at Adilabad’s Kala Ashram during the ongoing Sahyadri Kala Utsav here Dr. Karunakaran, said there ought to be consonance between man, machine and the system in the present scenario. “This is essential so that globalisation does not end in entropy for the artisan sector.”

Based on Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchy of Needs, he suggested formation of a basic centre for artisans by grouping 3 to 5 panchayats. Such centres should fulfil the energy and technical needs of artisans, he said.

At the national level, a production centre for artisans should be set up to fulfil the needs of society and at the international level an international production centre will be of help to the artisans, he said. Given these facilities artisans can face the challenge thrown up by globalisation. “To ensure peaceful co-existence, the cultural method of ‘global swadeshi’ is the best,” he added.

Atma Prabha Gupta, a disciple of Kumarappa, the famous Gandhian Economist presided. Earlier in the day, Guruji Ravinder Sharma spoke on prosperity and affluence in rural cultures.

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