Promotional Programme
The Department of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises and Textiles, Government of West Bengal, has been patronising the wonderful craft heritage of West Bengal, not only to sustain it but to develop it further, keeping pace with new demand pattern, new designs. Government has continuously encouraged and supported enhancement of skills for quality creations in the Handicraft sector which has reaped benefitsfor the craftsmen and created a growing number of craft-admirers both in the country and abroad.
The Directorate of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Governmentof West Bengal is the main promotional body in the state, and has its office at the New Secretariat Building (9th floor), 1 K.S. Roy Road, Kolkata 700001.Asthe facility provider, the Directoratehas been rendering assistances and implementing promotional programmes for development of theHandicraftsector. The District Industries Centres (DIC) and Sub-District Industries Centres (Sub-DIC) – located all over the state also fruitfully carry out implementation of these promotional programmes to reach out the handicraft artisans at block and village level.
The Handicraft products of the state are available at different emporiums and showrooms (ofBiswabangla,Manjusha,Bangasree etc.) spread over at various locations of West Bengal and outside. In addition to the District-level Handicraft Fair, the State Handicraft Expo is held in Kolkata in every winter where Buyer-Seller Meet is regularly organised for direct market exposure of the handicraft artisans. Participations are also made at various fairs and craft bazaars at national level and Indian festivals at foreign countries.
Major promotional programmes undertaken by the Directorate of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Government of West Bengal are :
- District Level Fairs
- Reimbursement of TA, DA & Carrying Cost to the handicraft artisans
- Celebration of Handicrafts Week& Awards to handicraft artisans
- Old Age Pension to Handicrafts & Village Industries artisans
- Artisan Credit Card (ACC)
District Level Fairs
All the DICs & Sub-DICs participate in the district-level fairs organised in the respective districts to extend direct marketing support to the handicraft artisans.
Reimbursement of Travelling Allowance, Daily Allowance&Carrying Cost to Handicraft Artisans
In order to promote sale of handicrafts products in and outside the state, the Directorate of MSME, WB is also implementing a Scheme for providing financial assistance in the form of grants for reimbursement of Travelling Allowance (TA), Daily Allowance (DA) and Carrying Cost to the handicraft artisans for participation in different Exhibitions/ Expos/Fairs, organised and participated by the Department of MSME&T and the Directorate of MSME.
Celebration of Handicraft Week and Awards to Handicrafts Artisans
The Directorate of MSMEcelebrates Handicraft Week every year. In order to encourage the handicraft artisans for creation of innovative designs and quality handicraft products, the Directorate of MSME has been regularly organising District Level Handicrafts Competition in each district and State Level Handicrafts Competition in Kolkata during Celebration of Handicraft Week. For participation in the National Handicrafts Competitions and other Competitions at National Level necessary arrangement is also made by the Directorate of MSME.
Old Age Pension to Handicraft & Village Industry Artisans
To promote handicrafts and to support the cause of handicraft artisans, the Directorate of MSME has been implementing the Scheme of Old Age Pension to Handicraft & Village Industry Artisans. In West Bengal, about 3,200 handicraft and village industry artisans – of age above 60 years &having no other source of income –are provided with a Monthly Pension of Rs 1,000/- under this Scheme.
Artisan Credit Card(ACC)
Government has laid stress on issuance of Artisan Credit Card (ACC) to the handicraft artisans, for providing requirements of working capital to carry out their activities incessantly, where a handicraft artisan can avail a loan of maximum 2 lakh rupees from banking institutions.
www.handicrafts.nic.inCraft in Districts
Handicrafts of West Bengal is not only a rich heritage of the creations of master craftsmen working through generations, it is also an amazing blend of variant creativity ranging from Stone Curving to Kantha Stich (Needle Work), from Shital Pati (Mat) to Dokra (Metal Casting).
| Sl. No. | District | Major Crafts |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Darjeeling | Woolen Items, Brass & Bell Metal, Wood Carving, Cane & Bamboo, White Metal Jewellery, Painting (on cloth), Embroidery |
| 2. | Jalpaiguri | Cane & Bamboo, Wood Carving, Stone Carving, Jute Items, Embroidery, Soft Doll |
| 3. | Coochbehar | Cane & Bamboo, ShitalPati, Wood Carving, Sholapith, Jute Items, Soft Doll |
| 4. | Uttar Dinajpur | Bamboo Items, Terracotta, Mask, Sholapith, Wood Carving, Jute Items, Woolen Items |
| 5. | DakshinDinajpur | Cane & Bamboo, Dhokra (Jute mat), Embroidery, Jute Items, Sholapith, Terracotta, Mask, Wood Curving, Soft Doll, Imitation Jewellery, Mat (Natural Fibre) |
| 6. | Malda | Cane & Bamboo, Dhokra (Jute mat), Embroidery, Jute Items, Kantha Stitch |
| 7. | Murshidabad | Brass & Bell Metal, Clay Doll, Sholapith, Shell Carving (Conch Shell), Jute Items, Wood Carving, Bamboo Items, Kantha Stitch, Coconut Shell & Husk |
| 8. | Birbhum | Brass & Bell Metal, Dokra, Kantha Stitch, Batik, Artistic Leather Items, Terracotta, Sholapith |
| 9. | Burdwan | Dokra, Wood Carving, Kantha Stitch, Sholapith, Terracotta, Jute Items |
| 10. | Purulia | Mask, Natural Fibre (Babui Grass) Products, Dokra, Wood Carving, Bamboo Items, Lac Items, Soft Doll |
| 11. | Bankura | Dokra, Terracotta, Baluchari (Sari), Wood Curving, Brass & Bell Metal, Stone Curving, Bamboo Items, Patachitra (Scroll Painting), Shell Carving (Conch & Coconut), Painting (Dos AbotarTas), Decorative Lantern |
| 12. | Paschim Medinipur | Patachitra (Scroll painting),Brass & Bell Metal, Wood Carving, Imitation & Silver Jewellery, Stone Carving, Bamboo Items, Horn Product, Natural Fibre Products (Mat etc), Zari, Embroidery, Terracotta (Pottery) |
| 13. | Purba Medinipur | Brass & Bell Metal, Wood Carving, Carpet, Jute Items, Patachitra (Scroll Painting), Bamboo Items, Shell Carving, Marine Jewellery, Mat (Madurkathi), Zari, Kantha Stitch, Batik |
| 14. | Nadia | Clay Doll, Brass & Bell Metal, Terracotta, Shell Carving (Conch) |
| 15. | Hooghly | Zari & Chikon Embroidery, Batik, Terracotta, Imitation Jewellery |
| 16. | Howrah | Zari, Batik, Imitation Jewellery, Soft Doll, Jute Items, Sholapith, Wig, Wood Carving, Coconut Shell |
| 17. | North 24 Parganas | Cane & Bamboo, Embroidery, Zari, Kantha Stitch, Soft Doll, Terracotta, Wood Carving, Imitation Jewellery, Jute Items |
| 18. | South 24 Parganas | Zari, Jute Items, Embroidery, Terracotta, Silver Filigree, Wood Carving |
| 19. | Kolkata | Copper Repoussé, Embroidery, Soft Dolls, Batik, Clay Model, Jute Items, Kantha Stitch, Paper Craft, Artistic Leather Items, Batik, Imitation Jewellery |
Craft Concentration (District-wise)
The following table offers a glimpse into the wonderful diversity of crafts of Bengal.
| Sl. No. | Crafts (arranged alphabetically) | Districts of Main Concentration |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Baluchori (sari) | Bankura |
| 2. | Batik | Birbhum,Hooghly, Howrah, Kolkata, PurbaMedinipur |
| 3. | Brass & Bell Metal | Murshidabad,Nadia, Birbhum, Bankura,PaschimMedinipur, PurbaMedinipur, Darjeeling |
| 4. | Cane & Bamboo | Darjeeling,Jalpaiguri,Coochbehar, UttarDinajpur, DakshinDinajpur, Malda,Murshidabad,Purulia,Bankura,PaschimMedinipur, PurbaMedinipur, North 24-Parganas |
| 5. | Clay Doll/ Modeling | Nadia, Murshidabad,Kolkata |
| 6. | Coconut (Shell & Husk) | Murshidabad,Howrah, Bankura |
| 7. | Copper Repousse | Kolkata |
| 8. | Dokra (Metal Casting) | Bankura, Birbhum,Burdwan,Purulia |
| 9. | Dhokra (Jute mat) | DakshinDinajpur, Malda |
| 10. | Embroidery | Darjeeling,Jalpaiguri,DakshinDinajpur, Malda, PaschimMedinipur, Hooghly, North 24-Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Kolkata |
| 11. | Horn | PurbaMedinipur, PaschimMedinipur |
| 12. | Imitation Jewellery (including Silver & White Metal Jewellery) | Hooghly, Howrah, Darjeeling,DakshinDinajpur, PaschimMedinipur, North 24-Parganas, Kolkata |
| 13. | Jute(diversified items) | Jalpaiguri,Coochbehar, UttarDinajpur, DakshinDinajpur, Malda,Murshidabad, Burdwan, PurbaMedinipur, Howrah, North 24-Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Kolkata |
| 14. | Kantha Stitch | Birbhum, Burdwan,Malda,Murshidabad,PurbaMedinipur, North 24 Parganas,Kolkata |
| 15. | Lac Items | Purulia |
| 16. | Leather (Artistic items) | Birbhum, Kolkata |
| 17. | Mask(of different types & materials) | Purulia, UttarDinajpur, DakshinDinajpur |
| 18. | Mat (Madurkathi, Masland & of other Natural Fibres) | DakshinDinajpur,PaschimMedinipur, PurbaMedinipur |
| 19. | Natural Fibre Items (like Babui Grass etc) | Dakshin Dinajpur, Purulia, PaschimMedinipur |
| 20. | Patachitra (Scroll Painting) | Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur, Bankura |
| 21. | Painting (on Cloth, Cards etc) | Darjeeling,Bankura |
| 22. | Shell Carving (Conch Shell, Sea & River Shell) | Purba Medinipur, Murshidabad,Bankura,Nadia |
| 23. | Shitalpati | Coochbehar |
| 24. | Sholapith | Coochbehar, UttarDinajpur, DakshinDinajpur, Murshidabad,Birbhum,Burdwan, Howrah |
| 25. | Silver Filigree | South 24-Parganas |
| 26. | Soft Doll | Jalpaiguri,Coochbehar,DakshinDinajpur, Purulia, Howrah, North 24-Parganas, Kolkata |
| 27. | Stone Carving | Jalpaiguri, Bankura,PaschimMedinipur |
| 28. | Terracotta (including Pottery) | Bankura,UttarDinajpur, DakshinDinajpur, Birbhum, Burdwan,PaschimMedinipur, Nadia, Hooghly, North 24-Parganas, South 24 Parganas |
| 29. | Wood Carving | Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri,Coochbehar, UttarDinajpur, DakshinDinajpur, Murshidabad,Burdwan, Purulia,Bankura,PaschimMedinipur, PurbaMedinipur, Howrah, North 24-Parganas,South 24-Parganas |
| 30. | Woolen Items | Darjeeling, UttarDinajpur |
| 31. | Zari | Howrah, Hooghly, PaschimMedinipur, PurbaMedinipur, North 24-Parganas, South 24-Parganas |
Crafts and Use
Crafts of Bengal not only infuses elements of grace, beauty and elegance to an otherwise drab and harsh day-to day life, it also adds dimensions to everyday life as household utility, gift item, fashion accessory and decorative.
| Medium | Skill/ Craft | Product | Utility/ End use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal | Casting, Engraving, Etching, Inlay, Embossing, Repoussé, Enameling | Brass and Copper Artware, Bronze Cast Items, Iron Decorative, Kitchen & Tableware, Wrought Iron Items, Furniture, Jewellery | Interior Decoration, Collectables, Fashion Accessories |
| Stone | Cutting, Shaping, Carving, Turning, Inlay | Statues, Decorative, Jewellery, Tableware and Kitchenware | Articles of Utilities, Collectables |
| Wood | Carving, Engraving, Turning, Lacquering, Painting, Inlay, Marquetry | Statues, Furniture, Toys, Decoratives, Kitchen and Tableware | Interior Decoration, Collectables, House Accessories |
| Cane & Bamboo | Cutting, Shaping, Weaving, Coiling, Engraving, Painting | Baskets, Mats, Furniture, Tableware, Toys, Panels | Utilities, Decoratives, House Accessories |
| Natural Fibre (Straw, Grassetc) | Weaving, Coiling, Typing | Mats, Bags, Baskets, Knick-knacks | Utilities, Decoratives |
| Cotton, Wool, Jute, etc. | Hand Printing, Tie & Dye, Batik, Artistic Weaving, Embroidery, Appliqué, Knotting, Tufting, Felting, Knitting, Painting | Carpets, Durries, Druggets, Lace & Lace Goods, Embroidered, Appliquéd and Hand-printed Textiles, Garments | Interior Decoration, Fashion Accessories, Household furnishing, Garments. |
| Leather | Artistic leather work, Embroidery, Appliqué, Embossing, Painting | Artistic Footwear, Bags, Purses, Garments, Saddlery, Jewellery, Furniture | Fashion Accessories, Utilities |
| Horns, Shells | Engraving, Carving, Etching, Painting, Turning, Shaping and Polishing | Decoratives, Paintings, Statues, Jewellery | Home Accessories, Fashion Accessories, Collectables |
| Clay and Ceramic | Moulding, Shaping, Firing, Etching, Painting, Glazing | Pottery of Artistic Shapes and Designs | Interior Decoration |
Bangasree (The West Bengal State Handicrafts Co-operative Society Ltd.)
An Apex Society under the Directorate of MSME, involved in beneficial and promotional activities for the handicrafts artisans of West Bengal by means of procurement of handicraft items directly from the artisans or from their societies. The items are marketed by The West Bengal State Handicrafts Co-operative Society Ltd(Bangasree) – through their showrooms in and outside the State as well as by participation in various fairs.
Paschim Banga Mahila Samabay Mahasangha Ltd. (PBMSML)
It is an apex society of woman handicraft artisans under the Directorate ofMSME. Its aim is to explore market of the items produced by Women Cooperative Societies. This job is executed by this Apex Society by sale through its showrooms and also through participation in different fairs.
Major Promotional Bodies
| Sl. No. | Name & Address | Phone | Fax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Directorate of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Government of West Bengal, New Secretariat Buildings, 9th Floor, 1, Kiran Shankar Roy Road, Kolkata- 700001 | (033) 2248-9666 | (033) 2248-9496 | ssiwb@dataone.in |
| 2 | Office of theRegional Director (Eastern Region), Development Commissioner(Handicrafts), Government of India, CGO Complex, 3rd floor, A-Wing, DF Block, Salt Lake City, Kolkata - 700064 | (033) 2334-5403, 2359-6744, 2359-6745 | (033) 2334-5601 | dchero@rediff mail.com |
| 3 | West Bengal Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd. ("Manjusha") Karuangan, 1B-181, Sector-III, Salt Lake City, Kolkata-700 091 | (033) 2335-1226, 2335-6322, 2335-2979, 2335-6166 | (033) 2335-9928 | wbhdc_08@rediff mail.com |
| 4 | West Bengal State Export Promotion Society 2, Church Lane, Room No: 401, 4th Floor, Kolkata – 700 001 | (033) 2243-9188, 2243-9187 | (033) 2243-9187 | wbseps@ gmail.com |
| 5 | Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, Regional Office – Kolkata 53/1, Sambhunath Pandit Street, 1st Floor, Kolkata– 700 025 | (033) 2419-1744 | (033) 2419-1745 | kolkata@epch.com |
| 6 | The West Bengal State Handicrafts Co-Operative Society Ltd. (“Bangasree”) BangasreeBhawan 4D/23/1 Dharmatala Road,Tiljala, Kolkata -700 039 | (033) 2343-1940, 2343-1935, 2343-1965, 2343-1941 | (033) 2343-1941 | bangasreehqwb @gmail.com |
| 7 | PaschimBangaMahilaSamabayaMahasangha Ltd. South End Enclave, Room no: 206, 2nd Floor, 1582, Rajdanga Main Road, KasbaKolkata - 700 107 | (033) 2441-4725 |