A silver filigree artisan at work. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, July 1: The Orissa government’s ambitious Silver Filigree Centre (SFC) project, on the banks of the Mahanadi river, is in a limbo.

Uncertainty over the project figured at a recent meet of goldsmiths and silversmiths of Cuttack City. State tourism minister Debi Prasad Mishra, who attended the annual meet, said: “Steps are being taken to expedite the project.” The Centre has been planned to link silver filigree with the tourism sector to boost the Cuttack Tarkashi art form.

The project will offer the tourists to go to a place showcasing the artisans’ work, the minister added.

The initiative involves identification of the traditional artisans, bringing them under one roof and setting up infrastructure for live demonstration of the intricate method involved in the silver filigree work with a product sale facility. The proposed centre would also envisage food, recreational facility and amusement park for children.

An official survey, two years ago revealed that most of the silver filigree artisans wanted to sustain their skills if it offered them benefits. Cuttack has been a centre of Silver filigree since ages.

Cuttack is home to nearly 2000 tarkashi artisans who had inherited the craftsmanship, over generations, involving mastery in twisting delicate silver wires into delicate loops knitted in a zigzag pattern resulting in an intricate lace like appearance. As wages are meagre in the profession, the younger generation of filigree artisans is considering for other means of livelihood.

SFC was planned to launch nearly two years ago, involving the state and centre under the union government’s Circuit Development Scheme (CDS). However, the major initiative to support and mobilize the filigree artisans has remained a non-starter as the OTDC has failed to complete the process of acquiring the required land for the project over the last two years.

Cuttack collector, Kishore Kumar Mohanty told The Telegraph: “The district administration has already demarcated a three acre plot at Mundasahi for the silver filigree project. But much depends on the OTDC to make the project a reality.”

Cuttack has been the centre of silver filigree for ages. Mohanty said that the project is significant as it was conceived to identify the filigree potential in Cuttack and ensure that the artisans do not quit their profession.