The Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Government of India, Shri Giriraj Singh inaugurated the Craft Tourism Village, Mahewa, in Naini, Prayagraj followed by another inauguration of the Common Facility Centre (CFC) for Terracotta Craft in the afternoon at Phaphamau, Prayagraj on 13th September 2024. The inauguration was carried out in the august presence of Sh. Rakesh Sachan, Cabinet Minister, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Khadi and Villages Industries, Sericulture Industries, Handloom and Textile, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Vijay Laxmi Gautam, State Minister, Rural Development, Overall Village Development, Rural Engineering, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, Sh. Praveen Patel, MP & Sh. Guru Prasad Maurya, MLA, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Amrit Raj, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), O/o DC(H), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, Sh. Vijay Vishwas Pant, Divisional Commissioner, Prayagraj Division, Sh. Navneet Singh Chahal, District Magistrate, Prayagraj, and other senior officers from state and cenral government and Ministry of Textiles, non-official members and various stakeholders from the handicrafts and handloom sector.
On this auspicious occasion, Shri Giriraj Singh visited and appreciated the thematic display of various crafts in the respective stalls and engaged with local artisans to better understand their challenges, encouraging them to further their entrepreneurial endeavors. He also distributed Pehchan ID cards, Improved tool kits, Mudra Loan Certificate, Pension Certificate and certificate of participation in the GSHPP to the concerned artisans & NGOs at Phaphamau.
During the inauguration, 40 stalls were set up by artisans displaying a diverse range of crafts, including embroidery, terracotta, painting etc. apart from moonj craft at Craft Village, Naini. Similarly, on this occasion awardees and MCPs specializing in terracotta craft from different parts of the country who were invited to showcase their exclusive artworks, exchanged their ideas in addition to learning about scaling up operations at CFC, Phaphamau. Live demonstration was also carried out by the craftsmen in this event at both venues. Children from nearby schools & SHGs were invited and participated in the event and appreciated the different traditional craft of the region. The artisans, SHGs, other stake holders were made aware about the scheme of the O/o DC(H), Mudra Loan, PMJJBY & PMSBY etc.
Smt. Amrit Raj, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), O/o DC(H), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India briefly introduced the gathering and gave an overview in brief about the programme and efforts taken by the Ministry. This included information on the sanctioned and ongoing projects under the NHDP and CHCDS scheme, about GI Tag, respectively and discussion on the Tradition in Technical approach.
Sh. Rakesh Sachan, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Khadi and Villages Industries, Sericulture Industries, Handloom and Textile, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh during his address appriciated the efforts taken by the Ministry of Textiles, by setting up of such Craft Village and Common Facility Centre, expressed the possibilities and benefits of working in convergence, inviting the handloom, handicrafts, Khadi and other allied industries and departments at single platform on the marketing front etc.
The Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, during his address expressed about the success of Lakhpati Didi and the scope for Shilpi Didi’s for their entrepreneurial growth. He advised to the District administration to make efforts in terms of installation of solar plant in CFC at the earliest and carry out periodical monitoring of the Common Facility Centre. He further appreciated the work carried out by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) including the setting up of such infrastructural projects. He also suggested possibilities of working in convergence, the importance of packaging, improved designs, creation of new employment and the scope for handicrafts developed on the marketing front including its potential in the events like Kumbh Mela.
Smt. Vijay Laxmi Gautam, State Minister, Rural Development, Overall Village Development, Rural Engineering, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, expressed her opinion that such infrastructure project may also be set up elsewhere in other parts of Uttar Pradesh and create avenues for employment generation.
This Craft Village has been setup at Mahewa Naini Prayagraj for benefiting the artisan practicing Moonj Craft the ODOP product of district Prayagraj for supporting 500 artisans that includes a sizeable number of women beneficiary artisans and 25 Self Help Groups formed in this craft concentrated area by integrating them into tourist circuits, thereby enhancing both craft promotion and tourism. A producer company by the name Naini Moonj Craft Producer Company Limited has also been formed in this craft concentrated area with the support of DC Handicrafts office, Government of India to facilitate the artisans.
Similarly, Common Facility Centre will contribute to the improvement in the livelihood of more than 1000 artisans practicing terracotta craft at Phaphamau, Prayagraj. The raw material prepared for the artisans practicing terracotta craft shall be available like clay, moulds modern furnace etc. at one place for the convenience & economical in the cost. Both these initiatives shall receive continued back up and support from the other schemes being implemented by the government viz. in terms of Design and Technical support, Tool-kits distribution, Entrepreneurial and Skill Development Program, etc.
Under the Government of India initiative and as a part of the National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP), The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), in collaboration with state government identified the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development, Lucknow, U.P., to undertake infrastructural activities in the Craft Village project and the second infrastructural project by the name Common Facility Centre is being implemented through M/s Manav Kalyan Sewa Samiti, Prayagraj.
The scope of work at Craft Village, Naini comprises of house beautifications, renovation and development of work space, development of Common display cum demonstration area, construction & beautification of entrance, drainage coverage, constructions of toilets, hoarding and signage etc at Craft Tourism Village. The CFC, Phaphamau is fully equipped with training areas, sales counters, storage, production tools, machinery, computer design installations, packaging facilities, and essential civic amenities, all designed to advance the artisanal craft industry.
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