The valedictory ceremony of the Handicraft Artisans Incubation Program, a pioneering initiative dedicated to empowering grassroots artisans, was held at KIIT-Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI) on Friday. The event marked the culmination of months of intensive training, enterprise development, and design-led innovation for artisan incubatees from diverse craft clusters across Odisha.
The ceremony was graced by Dr. Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, KIIT DU, who served as the Chief Guest. Other distinguished guests included Sri Rajesh Jha, Director, NIFT Bhubaneswar, Sri Bhuwan Bhaskar, Assistant Director, DC Handicrafts Service Centre (HSC), Bhubaneswar, Sri Kumar Premendra Sinha, and Sri Veer Bharat Marandi, Handicraft Promotion Officers, HSC Bhubaneswar. Sri Samarendra Sahu, Advisor, KIIT-TBI, whose vision and initiative led to the establishment of this unique incubation program, also presided over the event.
The ceremony began with a traditional welcome by the artisan incubatees, who greeted the Vice Chancellor with cultural warmth and showcased symbolic crafts representing their heritage. This was followed by a guided visit to the product exhibition, where Dr. Singh interacted with the artisans and observed their handcrafted products, prototypes, and design innovations developed during the program. He expressed his delight at witnessing the live craft demonstrations, noting the artisans’ refined skills and newfound entrepreneurial confidence.
A highlight of the event was the artisan-led product fashion show, where incubatees presented garments, accessories, appliqué work, terracotta pieces, and contemporary craft expressions created during the incubation period.
The show reflected the transformative impact of the program in blending traditional craftsmanship with modern design sensibilities. On this occasion, a coffee table book that reflects the spirit of the incubation journey of the artisans was also launched by the eminent guests of honour. The book covered the in-depth details of the transformation of the artisans into craftpreneurs.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Singh applauded KIIT-TBI for executing such an innovative and inclusive initiative, describing it as a model for artisan development in the country. He congratulated the incubatees for their dedication and encouraged them to continue exploring new markets and opportunities.
Sri Rajesh Jha commended the artisans for their commitment and the creativity reflected in their final products. He emphasized the importance of perseverance and continuous learning in building sustainable craft ventures.
Sri Bhuwan Bhaskar, who has supported the program since its inception, praised the remarkable progress of the artisans. He assured full support from DC Handicrafts, including opportunities for the incubatees to participate in upcoming national-level exhibitions and melas.
Adding to this, Sri Samarendra Sahu, Advisor, KIIT-TBI, shared his heartfelt appreciation for the artisans’ dedication and growth. He highlighted how the incubation program has successfully nurtured creativity, confidence, and entrepreneurial thinking among the participants.
Looking ahead, he announced that a select group of high-performing artisans will now be taken into an acceleration phase, where they will receive advanced mentoring, market exposure, and support to establish scalable, sustainable craft enterprises. He expressed optimism that this next stage would further strengthen Odisha’s craft ecosystem and create new opportunities for artisan-led innovation.
The event concluded with the distribution of certificates to the artisan incubatees and acknowledgements from the program’s mentors, who shared insights into the artisans’ growth, skill enhancement, and entrepreneurial readiness.
With this cohort, the Handicraft Artisans Incubation Program has reaffirmed its mission of transforming skilled artisans into confident, market-ready craft entrepreneurs — strengthening both livelihoods and India’s rich cultural heritage.
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