Chief Minister Sai attended the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Chairperson of Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board, Shalini Rajput

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai distributed grant money to handicrafts person under the Tool Equipment Scheme-Photo- CG -PR

Raipur: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday June 3, 2025 attended the ceremony of taking over the charge of the newly appointed Chairperson of Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board, Shalini Rajput, organised at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in the capital Raipur. On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that there are immense possibilities of handicraft development in Chhattisgarh. The artworks made here are in demand even in abroad.

The government is committed to provide market to the handicraft products of Chhattisgarh and to get the artisans a fair price for their skills. The Chief Minister distributed grant amount of five thousand rupees each to the artisans under the Tool Equipment Scheme.

There is immense potential for handicraft development in Chhattisgarh – Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai-Photo- CG- PR

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated and wished the newly appointed Chairperson of Chhattisgarh Craft Development Board, Shalini Rajput on assuming office and said that under her leadership, Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board will work for the betterment of the artisans. He said that artisans are doing very good work in every area of ​​Chhattisgarh. During Sushasan Tihar, I got a chance to visit Shilpgram in Kondagaon. There I met the artisans and saw their art closely. Similarly, in Ektal of Raigarh also, artisans make artifacts from metal. In Bastar, beautiful wooden figures are made from woodcraft. The skill of artisans in the entire state is amazing. The beautiful cap that was presented to me in this program today was made from Chhind and bronze. In Kotampani, near our village in Jashpur, very beautiful artifacts are also made from Chhind and bronze, CM added.

There is immense potential for handicraft development in Chhattisgarh – Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai-Photo- CG- PR

Chief Minister Sai said that there is a need to provide maximum training to the artisans. It is very important that handicraft work is mostly done in rural areas. Therefore, through handicraft development, we can provide employment to the villagers on a very large scale. I hope that the Handicraft Development Board will work in this direction and will provide training to the artisans as well as maximum loan-subsidy to them and connect them to employment.

The Chief Minister said that there is a demand for Dokra Art of Kondagaon in foreign countries. It is important that the artisans get a fair price for their product along with the market. Without middlemen, artisans should have direct access to the market, so that they get maximum benefit.

Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great happiness that Pandi Ram Manjhi of Garhbengal, Chhattisgarh has been awarded Padma Shri. The art of Chhattisgarh is the pride of our country, it should be recognised all over the world.

Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh on the occasion said that the artists of Chhattisgarh have wonders in their hands. Whether it is clay toys or bell metal, embroidery, tattooing and terracotta, the artisans of the state are making very beautiful products of their art. Handicrafts of Chhattisgarh should participate in national and international level exhibitions. Our artisans have natural skills. There is also a need to involve designers for large scale production of handicrafts.

On the occasion, Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade, MP Mrs . Kamlesh Jangde, MLA Dharamlal Kaushik, Sunil Soni, Asharam Netam, Gajendra Yadav, Chairmen of various Corporations-Boards-Commissions, Managing Director of Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board Shri JP Maurya and many other dignitaries were present.