Bhubaneswar, Dec. 9: The state government has set up a common facility centre at Khandagiri to provide skill development training and encourage bulk production facility for artisans.

The centre, initiated by the State Institute for Development of Art and Crafts under the handloom, textile and handicrafts department will have facilities for lamination tools, handlooms, sewing and embroidery machines for design prototypes and sample development.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate the centre tomorrow and artisans will be encouraged to work with empanelled craftsmen to come up with contemporary designs.

"The centre will facilitate the introduction of newer designs into crafts making process that would impart a global approach to the creations," said Raja Parija, joint secretary of the handicrafts department.

"It can greatly assist artisans to take advantage of the modern facilities which will help to achieve greater profitability and enhance their professional skills," said textiles and handicrafts minister Snehangini Chhuria.

The purpose of the facility is to enable craftsmen transform themselves from individualised labour intensive process to easier production method for enhancement of their economic standard by using modern machineries. A sum of Rs 1.25 crore has been spent for the construction of the centre.

Artisans dealing with six different crafts such as terracotta, appliqué, palm leaf and patta painting, stone carving, brass metal and natural fibre crafts can avail facilities at the centre. Presently, the focus will be on appliqué stitching and pattachitra framing and gradually machineries for a number of other crafts will be set up.

One computer-aided design unit for the development of handloom sector has also been established where 20 beneficiaries will be trained in each batch for a duration of six months.

The state government is celebrating the Handicrafts Week till december 14. A series of events has been planned for the block and district levels across the state for the betterment of the traditional craftsmen in the state. Throughout the week, the field officers of the textile department of the state will meet the craftsmen and make them aware about the beneficial schemes of the government.

"A number of schemes are running under the state and Central government for the benefit of the artisans but at times it fails to reach them. So we have asked the field officers to have conversations with the weavers and let them have a better understanding of ways to avail the beneficial proposals," said Parija.

A number of awareness camps would be held in the districts where craftsmen would showcase their products. Solar lanterns will also be distributed to the artisans.