GUWAHATI: At the initiative of Dipok Kumar Barthakur, Vice Chairman of SITA, a team headed by Advisor Dr MriduI Hazarika along with Dwijendra Singha Hazari and Alakesh Kakati visited Sarthebari, Barpeta to study present status of Bell & Brass Metal Industry on Monday.
The visiting team had a meeting with the members of two societies namely Assam Cooperative Bell Metal Utensils Manufacturing societies and Bell Metal Artisans and Trading Co-operative Society Limited under the Cooperation department, along with the officials of Cooperation department and District Industries & Commerce Centre, Barpeta.
Assam Cooperative Bell Metal Utensils Manufacturing societies was established in 1933 consisting of 2000 share holders having 1200 artisans and 800 non-artisans. Whereas Bell Metal Artisans and Trading Co-operative Society Limited were formed on 2019 with 1980 artisans. The members of Cooperative societies stated that their product is traditionally unique handicraft and to survive from the competition of machine made utensils that their products require logo/GI Tag. The source of power is another problem as they had to procure charcoal or firewood from different sources at high price. They also requested to popularise their product as Government may take initiative to use different utensils at Govt. circuit House, Departments'slB and other official ceremonial functions.
The visiting team after a detailed discussion with all the members, Dr. MridulHazarika opined that to maintain uniqueness of the product, the artisans has to adopt some dynamism to remain in the ever competitive market of the world. The Advisor also suggested that to popularise the products there needs to be some modification in its weight and size and also need some skill development training for artisans on modern line.
The team visited the different sites along with the officials of Cooperation and DICC department and had firsthand information On the preparation and making of different utensils and also had an interaction with the artisans, stated a press release.
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