UP News: Terracotta craft products are also included in the special identity of Gorakhpur in UP. Ever since Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath included Terracotta in the ODOP (One District One Product) scheme seven years ago, the business of this clay craft is growing day by day. Now the Terracotta business will flourish further through the Common Facility Center (CFC). Two CFCs are already in process from the District Industry Center. Now a voluntary organization Safe Society has also taken initiative for this in collaboration with SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India).
Work has already begun on opening a CFC in Gulriha’s Bharwalia by SIDBI. This will provide a lot of convenience to terracotta artisans. The process of opening a CFC in Padri Bazar and Aurangabad by the District Industry Center is underway. The Terracotta Common Facility Center being built in Bharwalia is expected to become operational by the end of this month. Here, artisans will have a single point of contract for all kinds of work.
Work being done on CM Yogi’s initiative
Safe Society Chairman Vaibhav Sharma said that the CFC is being built inspired by the initiative taken by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath regarding terracotta. This CFC will have facilities like electric furnace, training to artisans and providing market for the finished goods. Manish Sinha, General Manager of SIDBI Lucknow Region, says that opening of Terracotta’s CFC will facilitate new training and preparation of products with new technology. Not only this, more goods will be prepared at less cost and in less time.
The General Manager said that if earthen pots or other products are baked in the old way, then it takes more than 18 hours. If it is baked in the tunnel furnace of CFC, then one trolley of terracotta is baked in thirty minutes. He said that if the craftsmen working with CFC get business benefits, then new people in this field will also be able to join the business after taking training. Manish Sinha said that CFC will be operated by SIDBI for two years. After this, SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) will be formed and it will be handed over to the beneficiary craftsmen.
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Craftsmen now have work throughout the year
The terracotta craft, which was losing its charm till seven years ago, got the support of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s ambitious ODOP scheme and the colour of this clay became more vibrant. Terracotta craftsmen, who used to sit idle often, now have work throughout the year. On festivals like Diwali, they get orders six months in advance.
To turn terracotta craft into an enterprise, CM Yogi included it in the multi-faceted and ambitious ODOP scheme. After joining ODOP, terracotta craftsmen have received resource, financial and technical help. Under the leadership of the CM, such tremendous branding took place that its market expanded immensely. The Chief Minister himself brands terracotta from various platforms. In a way, the Chief Minister himself is its brand ambassador Yogi Adityanath. With the availability of electric wheel, pugmill, design table etc., the work of craftsmen has become easy and productivity has increased three to four times.
At present, terracotta craft work is going on at a large scale in Aurangabad, the original village of terracotta, as well as in Gulriha, Bharwalia, Jungle Ekla No.-2, Ashrafpur, Hafiz Nagar, Padri Bazar, Belwa, Balapar, Shahpur, Saraiya Bazar, Jhungiya, Arazi Rajdhani of Jhangha area. After joining ODOP, due to the growth of the market, about 30-35 percent new people are also associated with the terracotta business.