SRIBHUMI, Nov 10: A six-month programme was launched in the Kaliganj-Ratanpur area of Sribhumi district to improve the livelihoods of 50 women Sital Pati weavers from the Patiara community.
The Sital Pati Artisan Livelihood & Digital Empowerment Initiative is being implemented by Indian Awaz Foundation with CSR support from North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi).
The programme aims to expand income opportunities for women engaged in the traditional craft and link them with modern markets, digital services and government schemes.
Two facilities are planned under the Barak Development Centre of Indian Awaz Foundation — an Artisan Enterprise Centre and an Artisan Digital Seva Centre.
The enterprise centre will help artisans develop new designs, improve product quality, set prices and expand markets. It will also seek to create market opportunities for home décor items, bags and other products besides traditional mats.
The digital seva centre will assist artisans and their families with information on government schemes, online registration, applications, preparation of documents and access to services. It will also help them communicate with the concerned departments.
“Traditional artisans need recognition for their skills, but attention must also be paid to the challenges they face in daily life,” Indian Awaz Foundation founder and managing director Mohammad Nazim Ahmed said.
Ahmed said Patiara women had kept the Sital Pati weaving tradition alive for generations and needed better access to markets, information, digital services and institutional support.
He said the Barak Development Centre was being developed as a resource centre to address the development needs of different communities in the Barak Valley.
