Jamshedpur, Jan. 30: The state government has decided to promote centuries old Sohrai, Jadu Katia and Paytkar art forms on the lines of Madhubani paintings.

The industries department has selected sketches of three traditional paintings to use the designs in sarees produced by Jharkhand State Khadi and Gramudyog Board.

The paintings chosen are generally used to decorate thatched or mud houses in Saranda forests in West Singhbhum and adjoining East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts. The painting are made by women using flowers and trees.

Special secretary of the industries department, Dhirendra Kumar, also the director of handicraft, silk and handloom, said the government has selected different types of traditional paintings to promote it like Madhubani painting.

“The painting and interior decorations are the heritage of the tribals. The government wants to promote it within the country and abroad,” Kumar said, adding his department would identify a few tribal villagers, who can make sketches of these paintings. “Their paintings are confined to the walls of homes in the forest areas. We want to market the traditional paintings. These designs will be used in silk sarees produced by the board,” he said.

“The designs of Sohrai, Jadu Katia and Paytkar would add value to the saris,” he said.

The board has set up a training-cum-production centre at Kharsawan and Chandil for promoting silk sarees.

The government has charted out a policy for promoting the tribal paintings in the coming years.

The experts would turn consultants and others would become trainers. The artists would be used as a resource for imparting the knowledge of paintings among the younger generation.

According to the senior officials of the industries department, they would rope in certain NGOs for conducting surveys and promoting the tribal art forms.

“Many elder persons in tribal villages are experts and their knowledge can be used commercially in the larger interest of the state and its tribal population,” an official said.