Raipur, 1 June 2021. According to the intention of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, new experiments are being done by Bastar district administration to give recognition to Bastar’s folk art, craftsmanship, culture, tourism and other local arts in the country and the world. Although Bastar Art is already famous in the country and the world, its benefits are rarely available to local artists. Bastar art is in great demand in other states as well as abroad, but due to lack of marketing details, the craftsmen are not able to get a fair price for their hard work.
It is noteworthy that under the direction of Village Industries Minister Guru Rudra Kumar, keeping the spirit of Aamcho Bastar at the center, the district administration is doing new experiments. In which women’s group is being trained in manufacturing, unique design, marketing, accounting and making them attractive and market-demanding materials and value-added products. At present, contracts have been signed with TRIFED, Bastar Kala Gudi, Tribal Token, Loka Bazar, Software, Pankhuri Seva Samiti, Amcho Bastar Bazar, and other related institutions for marketing the products of women’s group, which are also getting good returns.
In Bastar, women belonging to the group are busy doing value addition in artefacts these days. The possibilities have been increased even more with the new attractive designs of bamboo art, soil art, terracotta, tumba art, sisal art, hand made incense sticks and incense sticks and dhokra craft from the past. Bastar Collector Rajat Bansal informed that there is a good demand for traditional and new design products. There has also been an increase in sales due to the promotion of products in social and digital platforms. We are constantly working to strengthen the marketing system. The district administration also has plans to link Bastar handicrafts with tourism, under this, a souvenir shop will be opened in the main tourist places, In which all the artifacts of Bastar will be kept for display and sale. This initiative of the Bastar District Administration will give a new condition and direction to the Bastar handicrafts, which are losing direction. Along with this, there will also be an increase in continuous work and livelihood for handicraftsmen. Due to which the future generation will also be inspired to adopt Bastar handicrafts as a livelihood.