New Delhi (NVI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah today distributed 200 electric potter wheels (chaak) to 200 trained artisans of Kumhar community in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad under the ‘Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana’ via video conferencing.
“As many as 200 families from 20 villages in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad took a stride towards sustainable self-employment today by associating with Kumhar Sashakrikaran Yojana of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC),” the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises said in a statement.
However, the distribution of electric potter wheels will benefit at least 1,200 members of the community by increasing their productivity and their income, it added.
Shah also lauded the various self-employment schemes of KVIC like Honey Mission, Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana, Leather Artisans’ Empowerment and Project DigniTEA. He was accompanied KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena during the virtual event.
The Union Minister said the electric chaak will not only help potters to enhance their production but also enable them to make new fancy products that will fetch them good income during the Dussehra and Diwali festivals.
He urged every beneficiary to rope in at least 10 other families with Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana for the larger benefit of the community.
“Empowerment of the Kumhar (Prajapati) community by improving their socio-economic condition has been the dream of our Prime Minister. KVIC’s Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana is aimed at making potters “Aatmanirbhar” by creating sustainable local employment for them while preserving the heritage art of pottery. It is important that young potters take up the art of pottery and expand it across the country,” Shah said.
He further said the government has created proper marketing channels including tie-up with the Indian Railway for selling their products.
“Indian Railway has already designated 400 railway stations where only earthenware is being used to sell food and beverages. I will also request the Railway Minister to identify more such stations so as to provide a bigger marketing platform to our potters,” Shah added.
-RJV
