SEMINAR FOR LAUNCHING OF SOUVENIR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, MAJOR SKILL AND DESIGN INITIATIVES FOR THE HANDICRAFT ARTISANS OF VARANASI ON 26TH SEPTEMBER 2014

SEMINAR FOR LAUNCHING OF SOUVENIR
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, MAJOR SKILL AND DESIGN
INITIATIVES FOR THE HANDICRAFT ARTISANS OF
VARANASI ON 26TH SEPTEMBER 2014

A seminar for launching for various Major Skill and Design Initiatives taken by Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India for the Handicraft & Handloom Artisans & Weavers of Varanasi were organized on 26th September, 2014 at Sanskritik Sankul, Maqbool Alam Road, Chowka Ghat, Varanasi.

Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Hon'ble Minister of State for Textiles (Independent Charge) Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Govt. of India launched major skill and design initiatives for artisans & weavers of Varanasi in the august presence of Senior officials from the Ministry of Textiles, Exporters, Stake Holders, artisans/Craft persons, SHGs & NGOs were present during this important occasion.

Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Hon'ble Minister of State for Te x t i l e s ( I n d e p e n d e n t Charge), Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Water R e s o u r c e s , R i v e r Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Govt. of India l a u n c h e d S o u v e n i r Development project, major skill & design initiatives for integrated & inclusive development of Handicrafts & Handloom sector of Varanasi on 26th September 2014 in an impressive function organized during the workshop organized at Sanskritik Sankul Hall, Maqbul Alam Road, Chowka Ghat, Varanasi in the august presence of Shri. Ravinder Jaiswal, Hon'ble MLA- Varanasi, Shri Shyamdev Roy Chaudhari (Dada), Hon'ble MLA- Varanasi and Shri Kedarnath Singh, Hon'ble MLCVaranasi.

Hon’ble Minister of State for Textiles (Independent Charge), Govt. of India launched Souvenir Development project, major skill & design initiatives for integrated & inclusive development of Handicrafts & Handloom sector of Varanasi on 26^th September 2014 in an impressive function organized during the workshop organized at Sanskritik Sankul Hall, Maqbul Alam Road, Chowka Ghat, Varanasi in the august presence of Shri.  Ravinder Jaiswal, Hon’ble MLA- Varanasi, Shri Shyamdev Roy Chaudhari (Dada), Hon’ble MLA- Varanasi and Shri Kedarnath Singh, Hon’ble MLC-Varanasi.

More than 500 artisans, Weavers, Master craft persons, Manufacturers and Exporters were present alongwith large number of Entrepreneurs from Varanasi and nearby areas.

Following are the major initiatives launched by Hon’ble Minister:

• Launching of Skill Development Program in Hand Knotted and Hand Tufted Carpet Weaving for 5000 Artisans (by Carpet Export Promotion Council). 
• Launching of Integrated Design Project ( 5 Months)  for Wooden Toys (by National Centre For Design & Product Development)
• Launching of Design Workshop ( 3 Week) for Soapstone Craft (by Central Cottage Industries Corporation)
• Launching of Souvenir Development Project (3 Week) ( by Handicrafts & Handloom Corporation of India
• Announcing Empanelment of Artisans/ SHGs/Clusters for procurement of handicraft  Products By HHEC/CCIC
• Announcing Empanelment of Exporters by Export Promotion Council For Handicrafts
• Release of two books prepared by NCDPD & IICT, BADOHI.
• Distribution of Battery Link Inverter to Handloom Weavers
• Distribution of Tool Parts to Handloom Weavers
• Distribution of Improved Tools for Wood Craft
• Distribution of Motorized Improved Potter Wheels to Potters
• Distribution of Artisan Cards

     OTHER MAJOR ATTRACTIONS OF THE PROGRAM

-   AN EXHIBITION ON INNOVATIVE DESIGNS DEVELOPED BY NCDPD ON MURAL PAINTINGS AND WOODEN TOYS

·   An impressive and attractive exhibition on new designs developed for the Mural paintings of Varanasi and Wooden Toys was organized.

·    Terracotta products from Aurangabad (Centre for the production of high end exportable terracotta products) and Wooden Toys from Channapatna ( Centre for the production of exportable quality toys near Bangalore) and products of the Zari/Zardozi were the major attractions for the artisans, SHGs and manufacturers.

-          LIVE DEMONSTRATION

·    Live demonstration of the Motorized Potter Wheel for faster production of the terracotta products was also one of the major attraction.

-          STALL FOR THE JAN DHAN YOJANA

·   Presence of bankers and opening of accounts of the artisans/weavers was another important feature of the entire program where artisans and weavers directly contacted the Bankers.