Bhubaneswar, Aug. 26: Soura artists are crying foul -their craft has all of a sudden been removed from the state government's approved list of handicrafts.

The list that features 50 approved crafts of the state does not include the Soura craft anymore and thus they will not be eligible for the various schemes and facilities of the state government, lamented an artist.

"Soura art was in the list for over a decade. We had even received funds for various projects. But now suddenly the director of handicraft and cottage industries has issued a circular saying that it was erroneously included and, therefore, has now been replaced with cloth patchwork," said a member of a city-based handicraft organisation on condition of anonymity.

The state has about 2,000 Soura artists with most of them belonging to primitive tribes such as Lanjia Saura. Many of them reside in Gunpur, Gajapati and some parts of Ganjam district. In fact, in its beautification drive, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and other departments have often encouraged young artists to decorate public walls and flyovers with Soura paintings. Now with the art form not part of the approved list of crafts, many artists are now worried whether they would get any government support.

The director of the handicrafts and cottage industries, however, refuted all claims. "Soura painting was never a part of the chosen 50 crafts and neither has there been any correction by which any other craft has replaced it," said the director, Sanghamitra Kanungo.

The Telegraph, however, has a copy of the letter dated July 7, 2015, in which the director has written to all district industries centres that the list of approved crafts under handicraft sector erroneously has printed 'Soura painting' printed on it instead of 'cloth patchwork', but now it has been corrected for future use.

Despite Soura painting being a popular craft and the fact that applique is already present as the first name in the list of handicrafts, the former has been replaced with cloth patchwork that is similar to appliqué. However, officials of the handicraft and cottage industries of the state are denying the same.