Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: There are an estimated 1 lakh handicraft artisans in the state engaged in different forms of art, according to the handicrafts department.
This is a huge jump from the figure of 69,395 handicraft artisans enumerated in the 2009-10 handicraft census, which included 41,612 males and 27,744 females.
The exact number of handicraft artisans in the state, which has a rich crafts heritage, would be known by 2017, when the ongoing census ends, said the department. Officials said that the data would help them formulate policies and programmes in a better manner.
“The handicraft census in going on in the state in full swing to find out the exact number of artisans in the state who are engaged in different types of art forms,” said Sanghamita Kanungo, state handicrafts director.
The artisans are involved in making pattachitra paintings, palm leaf paintings, tribal jewellery, golden grass baskets, papier mache, Sabai craft, Dhokra casts, animal horn items among others, many of which are unique to the state like the pattachitra paintings.The handicrafts department has, meanwhile, claimed that a number of handicraft artisans from the state have been covered in the targeted insurance plan.
“The department has been working to include more and more handicraft artisans in the Aam Aadmi Insurance Scheme specially crafted for them. As of now 16,000 artists have already been covered under the scheme,” Kanungo said.
