State comes up with projects to create alternate sources of livelihood for artisans

Kolkata: West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) has started two projects at Chhatna block in Bankura with an aim to improve the quality of life of local residents and provide livelihood opportunities for them.

A project on stone-carving has kicked off at Susunia while another on dhheki processed rice started at Dalpur. Senior officials of WBKVIB recently visited the two areas in Bankura to oversee the projects.

"We are setting up a production centre with workshop for the artisans involved in stone-carving adjacent to Susunia Hills. We will also have a dormitory and other requisite facilities so that the artisans can stay if they want to. The state Forest department has provided us land for developing the infrastructure," said Mrityunjoy Bandyopadhyay, CEO of WBVIB.

There are 20 shops at the foot of Susunia that sells variety of handicraft items made by stone-carving.

The shops are scattered and there is scarcity of space for putting all their work under display. They had to travel some distance away from that spot and bring articles as per the demands of the customers. The production centre will provide them the space for production and also exhibition of the products.

"We have seen that people who buy articles from them are inquisitive about the intricate designs that they put in their artworks. The tourists will now be able to see the artisans at work in their workshop," a senior official of WBKVIB said.

The Board has set a target of bringing 340 artisans involved in stone carving at the production centre.

WBKVIB has provided 26 mechanised dhhekis for processing rice at Dalpur. The dhhekis had to be operated manually which involved a lot of time and effort.

The machines have been designed by experts from IIT Kharagpur and made by the Bankura Engineering

College on the basis of the design.

About, 120 persons are associated with this trade and the entire process is carried out in at Sree Sree Gyanananda Saraswati Ashram at Dalpur.

"We have plans for extension of the project. Dhheki processed rice has its entire food value intact. If we can produce more we will be able to use this rice for ICDS or in mid day meals in schools," said Subhasis Batabyal, vice president of West Bengal Agro Industries Corporation who hails from Chatna Bankura.