Bengaluru: Oil PSUs have supported various art and crafts in the country, in line with the government’s commemoration of 75 years of Indian Independence – Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav. 

As per a petroleum ministry statement, central public enterprises will take up 75 projects in different districts across the country. It is to be noted that an initiative to revive the struggling handicraft projects and empower the local artisans has been launched. 

What this means is that the initiative will fuel the economy as well as brace up the nation’s rich cultural heritage. 

In this regard, petroleum secretary Tarun Kapoor said, “I am happy that ONGC is spearheading this initiative to promote the art & handicraft projects of rural India; I look forward to more such initiatives in the coming time”. 

The following five projects are being supported by ONGC in the first phase:

Bamboo Cottage: ONGC has joined hands with Shivganga, a voluntary non-profit venture of young tribal entrepreneurs, to make the artisans of Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, who are struggling to keep the age-old art of crafting decorative items with bamboo alive, thus becoming self-dependent.

Dhokra: In association with Anwesha Tribal Arts and Crafts in Odisha’s Dhenkanal, this project will create new opportunities for the artisans of ancient metal casting craft Dhokra and lost wax technique Cire Perdue by forming clusters, impart training and create market linkages.

Lac: In association with CINI, ONGC aims to make the communities in Khunthi and Ghumla districts of Jharkhand aware of their forest resources and reviving the forgotten Lac culture. The project will train the tribal women and local youth in scientific lac cultivation.  

Bhotia: To promote the traditional craft of wool dyeing in Uttarakhand, ONGC with the support of SEWA International, will create platforms and marketing opportunities to showcase talent by combining their style of costume with modern clothing trends and exhibit their craftsmanship to a wider consumer base.  

Assam Silk: ONGC, along with the Northeast Development Forum, will facilitate the sustainable development of handloom weavers located in and outside identified handloom clusters of Sivasagar district (Upper Assam) into a cohesive, self-managing and competitive socio-economic unit.