DHENKANAL: There is finally some good news for the bamboo craftsmen of Govindprasad in Dihasahi village under Odapada block. The State Bamboo Mission in collaboration with the World Food Programme has decided to impart training to bamboo artisans of this village which will help them to fine-tune their skills to meet the market demands and also enable them to make better products. Recently, as per the direction of project director of the State Bamboo Mission, a team of officials led by Mission’s deputy ranger K C Nayak visited the village and held discussions with the artisans. They also undertook a survey of socio-economic status of the artisans and submitted a report to the State Government. Following the report, it was decided that skill upgradation and capacity-building training will be provided to the artisans. The training will focus on product design, development and quality improvement in line with the market demands. The programme will also provide necessary knowledge and skills. The artisans will be urged to take up bamboo plantation in private lands to ensure easy availability of raw materials in future.Divisional forest officials said they had received the survey report and accordingly, training schedule has been prepared. In the first phase, 31 artisans will undergo training. DFO S K Dalai said a voluntary organisation working in the field of training bamboo artisans and marketing their products will be selected for the purpose. Artisans of Govindprasad have been eking out their livelihood by making bamboo products. However, in the absence of capacity-building and marketing opportunities, the demand for their products was decreasing. A report on their plight was published in these columns recently. NABARD too has decided to chip in. NABARD AGM S N Mallick said the Dhenkanal unit of the bank would send proposals to the State branch to help the artisans by providing them credit linkage after the training.
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