In a major boost to the self-employment spree in Rajasthan, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) on Saturday distributed 200 electric potter wheels to potters, 240 waste wood toolkits to carpenters and 10 dona paper plate making machines to 450 local artisans in Jodhpur. KVIC Chairman, VInai Kumar Saxena distributed the machines to these khadi artisans from Jaisalmer, Barmer and Nagaur districts that have been trained by KVIC. The distribution of machines will create direct employment for nearly 1100 people. These beneficiaries also include 170 below-poverty-line (BPL) families.
The electric potter wheels have been distributed to 200 potter families from Jaisalmer which is known for its exquisite clay pottery. These potters have been empowered under KVIC’s flagship scheme ‘Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana’ which aims at reviving the dying art of pottery and empowering the marginalised potter community. Similarly, artisans have been trained in making paper dona plate and woodcraft by KVIC so as to make them self-reliant by providing self-employment.
Speaking on the occasion, KVIC Chairman said these initiatives have been launched under KVIC’s ‘Gramodyog Vikas Yojana’ which aims at empowering the rural masses through self-employment and also strengthening the rural economy of the country. “Through these schemes, KVIC has created lakhs of employment not only in Rajasthan but in other parts of the country too”, Saxena said. He said that KVIC was for the first time providing an online marketing platform for the potters of Rajasthan so that they can sell their clay products across the country.
It may be noted that Rajasthan is a focus area of KVIC which has an immense potential of employment creation through Khadi activities. Also, a number of traditional art forms in Rajasthan including clay pottery are being revived by KVIC. So far KVIC has distributed over 5,000 electric potter wheels in the state that have created employment for nearly 14,000 people. The distribution of waste wood toolkits will create employment for 240 carpenter families while 10 paper plate making machines will employ 50 persons.
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