Thaindian News

Panaji, April 28 (IANS) Artistic and contemporary terracotta and coconut coir handicrafts from Goa designed in consultation with the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, will soon be available right outside the Taj Mahal in Agra, an official said Thursday.

Speaking to reporters in Panaji, Sameer Salgaonkar, chairman of the Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC), said the new contemporary handicrafts would be showcased at a new emporium which will be started in the handicrafts complex near the Taj Mahal.

“The NID will help us to design and develop various specialized tools for artisans from Goa. We have tied up with them to help the local artisans to improve their livelihood possibilities by simplifying the existing processes of handicrafts manufacture as well as enhancing their productivity,” Salgaonkar said.

“The handicrafts will be available at the two new emporiums which we will be starting soon near the Taj Mahal and also in Jaipur, Rajasthan. These centres will help promote Goan handicrafts in these places of immense tourist interest,” Salgaonkar said.

Salgaonkar also said that an export promotion cell was also being set up within the GHRSSIDC, to promote Goan handicrafts, which essentially comprises of sea shell art, coconut artefacts, terra cotta figurines, etc.

“We have exported consignments to the USA, Netherlands and Switzerland last year. Encouraged by this, we have decided to set up an export cell to provide assistance to artisans based here,” Salgaonkar said, adding that similar successful schemes, started by the Gujarat and Sikkim governments would be studied before formulating a state handicrafts export scheme.