State MSME dept undertakes steps to ensure commercial success of 'Joyee' footballs

Kolkata: After reviving the football manufacturing industry in Bengal by engaging women of rural parts of the state in manufacturing the same, the Refugee Handicrafts under the supervision of the state MSME department is now taking necessary steps for the commercial success of "Joyee" footballs.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had named the football manufactured by the women of rural parts for Refugee Handicrafts as "Joyee".

Now to make it commercially successful, a decision has been taken to make the footballs available at least at one point in every district.

It may be mentioned that Refugee Handicrafts was set up in 1950 by the then Chief Minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy to help refugees earn their livelihood. But it had lost its significance due to the lackadaisical attitude during the 34-year Left Front rule.

After the change of guard in the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took initiative and set up the Refugee Handicrafts Managing Committee comprising veteran football players. The main work of the committee was to revive Refugee Handicrafts and the committee members had started engaging women from rural parts in making footballs. It has resulted in revival of the football manufacturing industry in the state.

Manas Bhattacharya, the chairman of the committee, said: "Now we are planning to select at least one place in each district where Joyee footballs will be available. The footballs will be sold from these outlets and if necessary we would also go for tie ups with some major shops in the districts."

The step has been taken to make Joyee footballs available in districts to make it commercially successful after people all across the state has become well aware of it with the footballs being distributed by the state government among local clubs ahead of the FIFA Under-17 Football World Cup that was held in October 2017. The state government had also distributed Joyee footballs among all Durga Puja organisers in the state and the footballs were displayed as a part of the programme to promote the football world cup.

Training was provided to women from rural parts of the state in making footballs and they had manufactured all the footballs those were distributed among local clubs and Durga Puja organisers.

Now, the women will be manufacturing the footballs which will be sold out in the open market which was the main moto behind taking up the project following the directions of the Chief Minister.

According to experts, the "Joyee" football has already became immense popular across the state and people already know the name. So, it will not take much time in becoming commercially successful.