Patna: In a significant step towards advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sahkar Se Samriddhi' (Prosperity through Cooperation), Bihar on Friday launched the Mithila Handicrafts Cooperative Society, bringing together traditional artisans from the state's globally acclaimed Madhubani art ecosystem under the cooperative framework. The initiative follows the Government of India's recent recognition of Jitwarpur in Madhubani as India's first Craft Village, and seeks to strengthen market access, improve artisans' incomes and showcase Bihar's rich cultural heritage to national and international audiences.

The first meeting of the newly formed cooperative was held at the Mithila Art Centre in Madhubani in the presence of Shirsat Kapil Ashok, IAS, Secretary, Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources Department, Government of Bihar, and Chairman-cum-Managing Director, COMFED, along with Anand Sharma, IAS, District Magistrate, Madhubani, senior officials from the Department of Tourism, Patna Museum, Mithila Chitrakala Sansthan and NABARD. Padma Shri awardees Dulari Devi and Baua Devi also participated in the programme.

Addressing the gathering, Shirsat Kapil Ashok said the formation of the cooperative demonstrates how the cooperative movement can become a powerful vehicle for preserving India's traditional arts while creating sustainable livelihoods. He noted that Jitwarpur's recognition as India's first Craft Village presents a unique opportunity to organise artisans, strengthen value chains and expand the reach of Mithila's celebrated handicrafts beyond domestic markets.   

He pointed out that Madhubani is home to nearly 50,000 registered Artisan Card holders, many of whom have received state, national and Padma honours for their contribution to Mithila art. Through the cooperative, artisans would be better positioned to collectively market their creations, improve incomes and access larger national and international markets. Nearly 200 artisans, including Padma awardees, have already applied for membership in the first phase, reflecting strong confidence in the initiative.

The programme also received recorded messages from Ashish Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, and Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), who congratulated COMFED and the founding members for extending the cooperative model to the handicrafts sector. 

Gautam Kumar Singh, Chief General Manager, NABARD, assured support for financing the initiative as required.
The occasion also witnessed the launch of Sudha Makhana Kheer by Mithila Milk Union, a new value-added dairy product that combines Bihar's globally renowned makhana with the trusted Sudha brand. Guests sampled the product, highlighting the state's continued focus on innovation and value addition in agriculture and allied sectors.

Representatives from TechnoServe, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with officials from COMFED and Mithila Milk Union, were also present.