Dokra and payatkar items on display at the Jharcraft stall in Ranchi on Tuesday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, May 13: Tribal handicraft is winning hearts in the state.

The dokra items and payatkar paintings at the state stall at Jharcraft impressed U.C. Sarangi, the chairman of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard).

Jharkhand Silk Textile and Handicraft Development Corporation Limited had organised Jharcraft on the initiative of the state government to provide a platform to local artists and primitive tribes of the state.

Inaugurating the stall, Sarangi emphasised the importance of art and culture in the development of a state. He said the stall would not only help improve the financial condition of tribal artists but also help spread the beauty of tribal culture across the country. “The stall will prove to be a milestone in the direction of spreading tribal art and culture,” he said.

Malhor, a local community that lives in the forest and hilly terrains, prepares the dokra items. These include decorative items made of brass. These are in great demand in the international markets.

Payatkar is a traditional painting depicting the tribal mood. One can learn about tribal culture by studying these paintings. These are made by using natural colours.

M.D. Belal, the sales manager of Jharcraft, was pleased with the stall. “Nabard’s initiative has boosted our morale as we have developed a platform for the local tribes to sell their products,” he said.

Preeti Kumar, the wife of Jharcraft managing director Dhirendra Kumar, who was also present on the occasion, said the initiative would help protect tribal art. “This move will emerge as a lifeline for the art and craft of Jharkhand, which is on the verge of extinction,” she said.

Nabard is an apex development bank, which has been accredited to deal on policy matters, planning and operations in the field of credit for agriculture and other economic activities in rural India.