NT NETWORK
PANAJI
The rural development department has decided to collaborate with the UNESCO to promote and preserve rural handicrafts and traditional folk art forms for socioeconomic growth of rural populace of Goa.
The government has given green signal to the proposal when the delegation led by Amitava Bhattacharya, ‘national partner’ of the UNESCO, called on Minister for Rural Development Jayesh Salgaonkar, which was followed by a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Minister for Agriculture Vijay Sardesai on Wednesday at the Secretariat.
Salgaonkar, who had initial discussions on the proposal with the delegation, told ‘The Navhind Times’ that he was happy in partnering with the UNESCO for adopting Bhattacharya’s ‘Art for Livelihood’ for the benefit of rural Goa.
“I am looking forward to tie up with the UNESCO in promoting, preserving and developing rural entrepreneurship in traditional handicrafts and folk art,” he said.
This initiative would not only preserve the traditional art forms of touristic state, but would help boost rural handicraft trade which would bring about socioeconomic growth of rural Goa, Salgaonkar stated.
The rural development department will work out modalities for going about the unique mission.
The minister said the department would study the UNESCO proposal and would see how best it can be adopted through various state government’s schemes implemented in rural development.
Bhattacharya, an IIT Kharagpur alumnus, said that this was the first time that the UNESCO was looking to partner with the state government in the particular field. In 2004, Bhattacharya launched ‘Art for Livelihood’, a project of ‘banglanatakdotcom’, with 3200 rural community artists engaged in six traditional art forms across six districts of West Bengal.
Since its inception, AFL has been instrumental in bringing a change to the lives of more than 14,000 folk artists from West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan and Odisha. The model is now being nationally endorsed, and has won praises of the UNESCO.
“Culture is a great enabler. Cultural capital in the form of oral and performing art traditions is an asset for developing rural enterprise. In the ‘Art for Livelihood’ initiative, cultural heritage is revitalised through training, exposure and promotion. New markets are created and new brands are developed to promote traditional performing and visual arts and crafts. Heritage becomes a means of livelihood and empowerment. Our motto is ‘to preserve art, let the artists survive’ and the vision is to preserve and revitalise subaltern heritage to address social exclusion, poverty and marginalisation,” Bhattacharya explained.
Bhattacharya and the RDA Minister opined that this initiative would help in strengthening the livelihood of rural population and safeguard traditional art and culture of Goa.
The UNESCO has already carried out a survey and research work in Pernem and Bicholim talukas as well in some parts of Salcete and Sattari. The UNESCO has found potentials in handicrafts and traditional folk art.
“We intend to work initially in these four talukas on pilot basis, with small groups of people. The initiative can be extended to other rural areas after setting achievable target of 10 to 12 months,” Bhattacharya said, adding that they would focus on boosting self-confidence, direct market linkage and substantial socioeconomic growth of rural practitioners.