New Kerala
By Peter Alex Todd, Guwahati: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that the northeast region of India was a vast reservoir of colourful cultural tradition and it could become the cultural gateway to Southeast Asia if the traditional arts and crafts are promoted in an effective manner.
While inaugurating the newly constructed Shilpagram at Panjabari near the Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati, Dr.Singh said that handicraft industry in Assam was yet to be exploited fully and the Centre would provide full support to generate employment from it.
Dr.Singh, who is on a two day visit to the state, said: “It is imperative that we preserve this precious heritage in all its rich diversity and hope the Shilpgram becomes the cultural gateway to India in our east. It should make Assam and the northeast the handicrafts gateway between India, China, Bangladesh and the countries of ASEAN.”
Spread over a sprawling four-acre land in the heart of Guwahati, the Rs.40 million crafts village funded by the union culture ministry houses about nine stalls, eight pavilions, a dormitory and an auditorium, besides a multipurpose stage.
“I am sure that the traditional Indian arts and crafts will withstand the threat of competition from modern industries. Our government is sincerely committed in promoting the handicrafts sector that is vastly under exploited,” Dr.Singh said.
The Shilpagram has been set up by the North-east Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) under the aegis of the Union Culture ministry.
This would be the seventh Shilpagram in the country. The other six are located in Udaipur, Chandigarh, Allahabad, Khajuraho, Hyderabad and Shantiniketan.
The Shilpagram or craft village would provide a common platform to the artisans of the North East region to showcase their crafts and provide marketing facilities for their products.
Regular cultural events to project and promote the performing arts of the region would also be organised.
The Shilpagram at Guwahati has 45 exhibition-cum-sale counters, eight pavilion blocks and eight traditional food stalls, besides artists’ dormitory, canteen, open air stage and auditorium.
The stalls would be alloted to craftsmen on recommendation of the member states at subsidised rates.
Dr.Singh said shilpagram was a blend of imagination and excellence and would attract attention worldwide for its traditional handicraft products.
Complimenting the artisans of the north eastern region particularly tribals, Dr.Singh said the northeast constituted a vast reservoir of colourful cultural tradition and was a treasure trove of fascinating handicraft reflecting the genius of the people.
Meanwhile, the state government has requested the Prime Minister for adequate central assistance for rehabilitation of militants, development of tea industries, and implementation of Assam Accord, flood and erosion control and development of education among others.
In a 20-paged memorandum submitted to the prime minister, the state government has requested the centre to reserve 3000 posts in central police organisations for the surrendered millitants of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and other millitant groups in the state.
On the implementation of Assam Accord, the state government has requested the centre that Punjab type eletrical fencing should be erected all along the inernatial border with Bangladesh.
Earlier on Monday, the Prime Minister had said that his government is open to peace talks with the outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), which is fighting for a separate homeland in the state.
Dr.Singh said that he was hoping for positive results from the recent discussions with ULFA representatives.
Formed in 1979, ULFA accuses the central government of taking away Assam s mineral and forest resources and neglecting the local economy.
Dr. Singh also laid the foundation stone of the Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station (BPTS) in Salakati (Assam), saying it was a ‘gift to Assam and the Bodoland area’.
Stating that Rs 3000 crore was sanctioned by the Centre for the largest power project in the state, he said, local coal would be used in the power station. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is the implementing agency for the project.
Manmohan Singh also announced that a railway sleeper coach factory and a petro-chemical complex would be set up in the state.
Acknowledging that there was enough possibility for growth and development of the Bodoland area, Dr Singh said, four Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) would be set up in Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Phanjhar and Bongaigaon.
Dr.Singh will be wrapping up his two-day visit to Assam today.
Before his departure for New Delhi, Singh is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a Rs 3000 crore coal project near Ledo in Upper Assam which will feed the local thermal power plant.
