Bhubaneswar: For the development of bamboo craft in the state, a MoU has been signed between Directorate of Handicrafts and Cottage Industries, Odisha, under the administrative control of Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, and Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA) under the administrative control of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Government of Odisha at OCM premises, Kala Bhoomi on Thursday.
‘Bamboo Craft’ is one of the approved crafts of the State. Although the craft is practiced in almost all districts of the State, most artisans concentration on bamboo crafts are found in districts like Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Bargarh, Subarnapur, Khurda, Rayagada, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Malkangiri and Sundergarh. The artisan population of the State in the craft is about 22000.
Ichinda (Rairangapur) of Mayurbhanj District, Gopalpur (Rasulpur) of Jajpur District, Baulapur (Odapada) of Dhenkanal District. Bargaon/Kantapalli of Bargarh District, Brahmanadihi(Padmapur) of Bargarh District and Binika of Subarnapur District are the six locations in five districts where the development of the craft will be focussed with a fund of Rs. 721.30 Lakhs supported by OBDA.
The Directorate of H&CI will implement this programme through its District offices headed by Assistant Director of Handicrafts.
Under these initiatives CFCs will be constructed of and new technology to be introduced for the treatment and processing of raw bamboo apart from skill development of the artisans of the above areas.
Marketing Assistance will also be provided through establishment of Rural Haats, Bamboo Bazar in addition to eCommerce. Besides, steps will be taken for opening of a Marketing and Design Cell at SIDAC, Bhubaneswar for improvement of market-oriented products.
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