June 12, 2021
New Delhi: Public enterprises under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas are doing a commendable job in fuelling the economy as well as bracing up the nation’s rich cultural heritage, said Petroleum Secretary Tarun Kapoor while inaugurating an initiative by oil PSUs to support various art and crafts in the country.
Designed in line with the Central government’s commemoration of 75 years of Indian Independence – Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, the initiative aims to promote the art and handicraft projects of rural India. Kapoor also launched the Bamboo Craft project of Madhya Pradesh supported by ONGC, in a webinar organized by the national oil company Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on June 11.
As part of a larger initiative, central public enterprises under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas will take up 75 projects in different districts across the country. ONGC has launched the initiative to revive the struggling handicraft projects and empower the local artisans. It will take up 15 of the 75 projects. The Bamboo handicraft of Madhya Pradesh was launched on June 11.
ONGC will address the challenges faced by the artisans and the art and handicraft forms, thereby improving the rural livelihoods associated with the handicrafts and handloom sectors. In association with local NGOs and forums, ONGC is initially undertaking five projects across the country to support the handicraft sector, with an outlay of around Rs 1.3 crore.
Speaking during the launch, ONGC CMD Subhash Kumar said: “Oil PSEs have always stood with the community wherever we have operational presence; these projects along with other flagship initiatives planned as a part of Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, will significantly contribute to a resurgent, Atma Nirbhar Bharat, a vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister.”
Speaking on the occasion, ONGC Director, HR, Dr Alka Mittal said that the handicrafts industry of India generates over Rs 13,000 crore in export earnings and is a source of livelihood for over six million craftsmen. “ONGC will remain actively involved in such initiatives touching lives of people,” she said.
The five following projects are being supported by ONGC in the first phase:
Bamboo Cottage: ONGC has joined hands with Shivganga, a voluntary non-profit venture of young tribal entrepreneurs, to make the artisans of Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, who are struggling to keep the age-old art of crafting decorative items with bamboo alive, thus becoming self-dependent.
Dhokra: In association with Anwesha Tribal Arts and Crafts in Odisha’s Dhenkanal, this project will create new opportunities for the artisans of ancient metal casting craft Dhokra and lost wax technique Cire Perdue by forming clusters, impart training and create market linkages.
Lac: In association with CINI, ONGC aims to make the communities in Khunti and Ghumla districts of Jharkhand aware of their forest resources and revive the forgotten Lac culture. The project will train the tribal women and local youth in scientific lac cultivation.
Bhotia: To promote the traditional craft of wool dyeing in Uttarakhand, ONGC with the support of SEWA International will create platforms and marketing opportunities to showcase talent by combining their style of costume with modern clothing trends and exhibit their craftsmanship to a wider consumer base.
Assam silk: ONGC, along with the North East Development Forum, will facilitate the sustainable development of handloom weavers located in and outside identified handloom clusters of Sivasagar district (Upper Assam) into a cohesive, self-managing and competitive socio-economic unit. /BI/
