Bhubaneswar: Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha members and artisans Friday protested at Lower PMG and attempted to gherao the Assembly over the government’s alleged delay in execution of its various announcements for the artisans. They submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the CM’s Grievance Cell here demanding fulfilment of three major demands.
Mahasangha president Udaya Mohanty said in Odisha more than 10 lakh people are directly dependent on handicraft and handlooms sector for their livelihood. However, their livelihood has been adversely affected owing to the apathy of the government. Mohanty said that craftsmen and weavers of 14 districts were affected during Cyclone Fani. The government had announced assistance of Rs 8,200 each to 70,000 craftsmen and 60,000 weavers. However, only 9,000 beneficiaries from Puri have been provided the assistance while the 13 districts have been ignored, he added.
Further, he said that in March the government had announced a monthly assistance of Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 to the artisans as per their age and experience. However, not a single artisan has received any assistance till now.
Mahasangha’s secretary Priyaranjan Kar said, “The CM had launched Handloom and Handicrafts Development and Promotion Council in March last year. However, the boards were dissolved after 17 months and there is no initiative to reconstitute the boards.”
Kar said that they would continue to protest until their demands are met.
