Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has issued detailed directives to enhance the visibility and sales of Madhya Pradesh’s handloom and handicraft products, with a focus on preserving cultural heritage, empowering artisans and strengthening the rural economy.
Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Department of Cottage and Village Industries on Saturday, the Chief Minister stressed the need to showcase products of state-owned brands such as Mrignayani, Vindhya Valley, Kabira and Prakrit at MP Tourism units, major religious centres and prominent locations across the state. He also called for expanding these brands to district levels through private franchise models and increasing their reach through digital platforms at national and international levels.
Yadav directed officials to organise saree walkathons in other cities, following the success of the Indore event held on March 7, which saw the participation of around 27,000 women. He also emphasised expanding silk production activities to more districts with active involvement of the private sector.
The Chief Minister instructed the department to prepare a comprehensive database of all GI-tagged products from Madhya Pradesh.
Officials informed that select handicraft items, including heritage Maheshwari stoles packaged in wooden boxes featuring Gond tribal paintings and bell metal craftsmanship, have been chosen as gift items for guests at the Prime Minister’s Office. Similar demands have also been received from foreign embassies.
As part of the 300th birth anniversary celebrations of Malwa ruler Ahilyadevi Holkar, 52 exclusive saree designs inspired by engravings from the Maheshwar Fort are being developed. The Silk Prosperity Scheme is being extended to all districts, while cheetah-themed gift items incorporating more than 35 local crafts are being developed for sale at the Kuno Cheetah Sanctuary.
The meeting reviewed achievements of the past two years, during which 2,568 village industry units were sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme. Grants worth Rs 63 crore were distributed, bank loans of Rs 252 crore were facilitated and 6,300 employment opportunities were created. Skill training was provided to 1,710 artisans, with 1,197 securing employment. Departmental production reached Rs 10 crore, while emporium sales stood at Rs 23 crore. New outlets were opened at Jawahar Chowk and Bhopal Haat, and 79 exhibitions were organised across the state and in cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ranchi and in Chhattisgarh.
Officials said the department’s three-year action plan includes upgrading facilities in Gwalior, expanding Khadi, textile and leather production under the SFURTI scheme in multiple districts, establishing common facility centres in Bhopal, providing e-commerce platforms and design support to 1,000 weavers, training 1,700 artisans, equipping 800 artisans with modern tools, organising 270 fairs, doubling Khadi production capacity, creating 8,000 jobs and strengthening the One District One Product initiative.
–IANS
