Coming up, facilitation centre for handicrafts

BHUBANESWAR: The city will have a common facilitation centre for development of handicrafts near the Khandagiri hills by next year.  A project of the State Institute for Development of Arts and Crafts (SIDAC), it is being set up with funds from the Development Commissioner, Handicrafts, Government of India. The ` 1.89-crore project is being built over an area of two acres near the upcoming tourist interpretation centre behind Khadangiri hills. So far, ` 94.93 lakh has been released for the centre and the rest would be released after submission of utilisation report. The Centre will have an exclusive campus to promote artisans working on five craft forms namely applique, stone carving, brass and bell metal, terracotta and pattachitra and palm leaf engraving works. While development of these crafts will be sponsored by the Development Commissioner, the State Government will finance  development of natural fibre crafts like Sabai Grass and Golden Grass crafts.Construction of this common facilitation centre for artisans has been entrusted with the Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) and will be ready in the next one month, sources said. Industry Promotion Officer Subhashish Paikray, who has been entrusted with the  project, said the centre would serve the artisans in a big way as it houses separate sections for each craft with access to quality tool rooms so that the artisans can produce their crafts on a larger scale. The centre will help the artisans gain ideas on design-specific order supply.  SIDAC would also organise regular interactive sessions to provide artisans a platform to interact with artistes and designers of national and international repute.  Since the centre is being set up near the tourist interpretation centre of the OTDC as a part of the Khandagiri-Udaygiri development project, SIDAC officials said it would attract many foreign buyers.The common facilitation centre along with the tourist interpretation centre will serve as a cultural hub as tourists will have a detailed knowledge regarding the rich craft tradition of the State.