Dhubri, Aug. 20: The terracotta artisans of Asharikandi craft village expressed satisfaction over their inclusion in the chief minister's pilot projects.
Asharikandi is one of six villages in Assam declared as model village and earmarked Rs 5 crore, which could bring in a sea change in the lives of its residents. Trading of terracotta in the Asharikandi and Madaikali villages has burgeoned over the last 20 years. But lack of infrastructure like roads, drainage, streetlights, market sheds, schools, community halls, drinking water, bank, ATM counters and many other basic amenities fail to lure tourists into these villages.
Dhirendra Nath Paul, a renowned terracotta artisan and recipient of Asam Sahitya Sabha's Bokul Bota award, expressed happiness over the declaration that the villages would be developed as model villages.
Director of North East Craft And Rural Development Organisation (Necardo) Binoy Bhattacharjee, who works in these villages for the promotion of terracotta, told The Telegraph that this was not the first time that the craftspersons had been accorded recognition. He said Asharikandi was named a model village even during AGP-led government in 1997.
"However, nothing was done at that time. The announcement by forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma in her speech here on Independence Day has given us hope. It is better to be late than never," Bhattacharjee said.
Asharikandi being a Scheduled Caste-inhabited village, the Assam government is releasing funds separately on this head for the socio-economic development of the artisans.
This positive move by the state government has also been welcomed by people of Gauripur as it will add another gem to its heritage crown.
"People of Gauripur town have long been demanding the declaration of Gauripur as a heritage town in lower Assam, which is now gaining ground. Lack of scientific preservation and maintenance has ruined things that are over five centuries old," said Probir Coomar Barua of Gauripur estate. A social activist of Asharikandi village, Balaram Barman, expressed optimism and said Dhubri-Gauripur are fast emerging as twin towns.
Three central government projects - rail link, air link and river port building- will soon be operational and the lost glory of the years prior to Partition and independence will be restored, Barman added.
Gauripur railway station is also getting upgraded to a junction. A new and alternative railway line from this station will run to Abhayauri and connect other places of the northeast, an railway official of Alipurduar junction said.
