On November 12, 2024, at the Block Development Office premises in Bellaguntha, rural artisans experienced the Government of India’s commitment in uplifting the handicrafts sector through the distribution of 50 sets of optimized and improved toolkits to traditional metal craft artisans of the region.
The Improved Toolkit Distribution Program (ITDP) for metal crafts was implemented under the National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP) with support from the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) and strategic management by the KIIT Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI). The objective of the initiative was to ease the craft practices, sprout innovation and improve the skill level of the metal craft artisans from Bellaguntha and surrounding regions so that, design and quality of the craft will witness significant improvement as well as marketability.
The event was graced by the presence and valuable feedback of several distinguished delegates, including Sh. Pushp Rajan, Assistant Director (Handicrafts); Kumar Premendra Sinha, Handicrafts Promotion Officer; Narendra Nath Singh, Assistant Director (Handicrafts), Ganjam, Smt. Bharatee Devi, Block development officer, Bellaguntha; as well as officials from KIIT-TBI, including Dr. Barada Prasanna Sahoo, Suramya Mishra and Manaranjan Maharana.
During the inaugural section delegates offered their insights about the program and its utility. Sh. Pushp Rajan emphasized the central government’s vision of uplifting artisans through access to modern tools to enhance their craft and livelihoods. Smt. Bharatee Devi highlighted the importance of rural empowerment and skill development noting that these tools would help artisans diversify and improve their work. Dr. Barada Prasanna Sahoo on the other hand, elaborated on the practical applications of the distributed toolkits providing a detailed explanation on how each tool could benefit the artisans in their metal crafting processes.
The session offered valuable insights into the usability of the tools ensuring that every beneficiary understood their importance and utility. The program culminated with the distribution of all 50 toolkits to the selected metal craft artisans marking a significant step towards promotion of local craftsmanship. The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Suramya Mishra, expressing gratitude to all the dignitaries and participants who made the event a success. This venture demonstrated a collective commitment in supporting India’s rich handicraft heritage and creating opportunities for artisans to thrive in the global economy.
The successful completion of the program candles another milestone under the ever glowing commitment of KIIT-TBI towards socio-economic growth in rural communities.