Handicraft exhibition begins in DICC

From Our Correspondent

Silchar, May 6: The district level handicraft exhibition was iugurated today at the District Institute of Commerce Centre (DICC) of Cachar by Mril Kanti Das, Additiol Deputy Commissioner of Cachar who was the chief guest on the occasion. The exhibition will be held for a period of 7 days. The exhibition was presided over by Nilotpal Choudhury, Executive Director, Dainik Jugasankha. Among others who spoke on the occasion were T K Chakraborty, Assistant Director, MSME, Chitta Ranjan Baruah, District Officer, KVIC, and Gautam Kumar Das, General Mager of DICC. 28 self help groups (SHG) took part in the exhibition, out of which the best 8 will be felicitated with prizes.

 The speakers said that there is an abundance of bamboo, jute, wood, clay, textile along with other handicraft products in the valley, but, due to lack of marketing the artisans are suffering as their products do not get due value that they deserve. They also stressed upon the fact that skill development and necessary marketing of the products can only give them their due value and recognition. Through proper training and skill development the youth of the valley can get employed which can reduce the number of unemployed in the valley, they said.

The ADC assured the participants and the people present on the occasion that the administration is willing to provide all sorts of help in every manner possible to raise awareness about the prospects and growth opportunities in the field of handicrafts.  Barak Valley is an impressive site impregted with rich potential in indigenous artistry and excellent craftsmanship. The cottage industries are located in the remote suburbs, primordially among the country sides sporadically uttended and unsung. A good number of men and women practising the art are compelled to live a meagre living.

 They are the dwindling minorities. Government apathy and inefficient policies have shoved them to their socio-economic confinement today. But with the perceptible shift in policies, currently, only a microscopic section is at the receiving end. Nevertheless, the local artisans in virtue of their die-hard psyche and pragmatic intuition poise to work for their necessary requirements. Barak Valley in the past with its perennial relevance to the Northeast has been an important breeding ground of heterogeneous craft practices. Today, in this era of globalization, craft practices worldwide have rejuveted with fresh aspirations. The waves of reform have also touched the local entrepreneurs, but, failed unlike other parts in creating a new vision and temperament in craft magement.