Handicrafts of Bengal embody our rich heritage of aesthetics, creativity and artistry. In today’s globalised world, the growing retail industry, fashion and luxury markets demand for green productions. Besides on the rises its high potential for employment, the craft sector is economically important from the point of low capital investment, high ratio of value addition, and high potential for export and foreign exchange earning for the country. WBKVIB thus aims to unleash the potential of the sector in terms of employment, enterprise, export and growth. WBKVIB is implementing the project with a vision to develop the villages with hundreds of families traditionally skillled in craft traditions like Sitalpati, Madhurkathi, Terracotta, Pathachitra, Dokra, Wooden Mask and Clay Doll making, Kantha as vibrant craft hubs connected to national and international markets.

Objectives

• Identifying, moblising and building capacity of 3000 artists families in 11 locations of West Bengal, create 10 Rural Craft Hubs and to access global/national market.
• The project aimed at developing a vibrant craft sector by converting the traditional craft skills of West Bengal into viable enterprise, thereby ensuring socio-economic development of the rural poor.

West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) is providing the necessary hardware support including equipping the rural craft hubs.
Resource Centres and Common Facility Centres are established. CSIR is guiding installation of improved furnace. Sewing machines have been provided to Sitalpati hub.
WBKVIB has provided the artists’ clusters with Rs. 5 Lakh worth of working capital.