Chief Minister attended the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Chairperson of Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board, Smt. Shalini Rajput
Chief Minister distributed grant money to handicraftsmen under the Tool Equipment Scheme
Raipur, 03 May 2025
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai today attended the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Chairperson of Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board, Smt. Shalini Rajput, organized at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in the capital Raipur. On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that there are immense possibilities for handicraft development in Chhattisgarh. The artworks here are in demand even abroad. The government is committed to providing market for the handicraft products of Chhattisgarh and to get a fair price for the skills of the artisans. The Chief Minister distributed grant amount of five thousand rupees each to the artisans under the Tool Equipment Scheme.
Chief Minister Shri Sai congratulated and wished the newly appointed Chairperson of Chhattisgarh Crafts Development Board, Smt. Shalini Rajput on assuming office and said that under her leadership, Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board will work for the betterment of craftsmen. He said that handicraftsmen are doing very good work in every area of Chhattisgarh. During Sushasan Tihar, I got a chance to visit Shilpgram in Kondagaon. There I met the craftsmen and saw their art closely. Similarly, in Ektal of Raigarh also craftsmen make artifacts from metal. In Bastar, beautiful wooden figures are made from woodcraft. The skill of handicraftsmen in the entire state is amazing. Today, in this program, the beautiful cap that was presented to me was made from Chhind and bronze. In Kotampani, near our village in Jashpur, very beautiful artifacts are also made from Chhind and bronze.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that there is a need to provide maximum training to the craftsmen. It is very important that handicraft work is mostly done in rural areas. Therefore, through handicraft development, we can provide employment to the villagers on a large scale. I hope that the Handicraft Development Board will work in this direction and provide maximum loan-subsidy to the craftsmen along with training and provide them employment.
The Chief Minister said that there is a demand for Kondagaon’s Dokra art in foreign countries. It is important that the craftsmen get a fair price for their products along with the market. The artisans should have direct access to the market without any middlemen, so that they get maximum benefit.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that it is a matter of great happiness that Pandi Ram Manjhi of Garhbengal of Chhattisgarh has been awarded Padmashree. The art of Chhattisgarh is the pride of our country, it should get recognition all over the world.
Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh said that Chhattisgarh’s artists have wonders in their hands. Be it clay toys or bell metal, embroidery, tattooing and terracotta, the artisans of the state are making very beautiful products of their art. Chhattisgarh’s handicrafts should participate in national and international level exhibitions. Our artisans have natural talent. There is also a need to engage designers for large scale production of handicrafts.
On this occasion, Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Laxmi Rajwade, MP Smt. Kamlesh Jangde, MLA Shri Dharamlal Kaushik, Shri Sunil Soni, Shri Asharam Netam, Shri Gajendra Yadav, Chairmen of various Corporations-Boards-Commissions, Managing Director of Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board Shri JP Maurya and many other dignitaries were present.
Serial No.-1250/lonhare/ankit
