Jharkhand to turn Latehar region into a carpet making hub

31 Aug '12

2 min read

The Jharkhand state government intends to develop Pokhree Kalan village near Belta National Park in Latehar district in to a cottage industry hub.

Revealing this, Latehar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Aradhna Patnayak said with over 500 artisans in the village engaging in carpet weaving as a prime source of livelihood, it has a potential to be developed into an industrial hub.

Ms. Patnayak said that in spite of carpet weaving activity being undertaken quite professionally in the village, the woven carpets are then sent to Bhadoi in Uttar Pradesh, were these carpets are given a finishing touch and marketed. This causes the carpet weavers in the Pokhree Kalan village to suffer a major loss in revenues.

The Deputy Commisioner informed that they are planning to set up a finishing plant at the village itself with funds from Swarna Jayanti Gram Swaraj Yojna and Integrated Action Plan (IAP), to wipe out the necessity for weavers to send their carpets to Bhadoi for giving a finishing touch. Once the village is equipped with finishing facility, it would provide a major boost to the Belta region’s rural economy, she added.

As the village lags behind in proper marketing of carpets, people of Bhadoi pocket the Pokhree Kalan carpet weavers’ hard earned money, Ms. Patnayak said.

Stating that the village lacks sufficient water required to operate a finishing plant, the DC said that water facility in Pokhree Kalan would be improved to satisfy the requirement of the domestic carpet industry.

When the DC visited some 20-25 looms in the village, she was delighted to see that no children were employed to work on the looms.

Ms. Patnayak revealed that they are working towards linking carpet weaving cottage industry with Jharcraft, a state government undertaking engaged in promotion of handicraft through better and effective marketing.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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