Kolkata,
Sep 15: Muslin weavers of Bengal, who were on the brink of extinction,
have got a new lease of life, courtesy Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In the
latest significant stride to boost the sale and marketing of this lush cotton
fabric, the government is developing a Muslin Tourism Circuit (MTC) at three
places in the state. The West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board
(WBKVIB) will be organising the tours, with assistance from a private
organisation, Society for Kindling Handicrafts and Indigenous Art. In the case
of foreign tourists, the Board will also take the assistance of foreign
embassies in organising the tours. The tours will take tourists to the villages
of Akalpoush and Sasinara in Bardhaman district and to Berhampore in Mursidabad
district to witness the manufacturing of muslin fabric with their own eyes. The
village of Baluchar, also in Murshidabad district, which is a hub for silk and
baluchari sarees, will also be a part of the circuit. Foreign tourists who
would go on tours of Bardhaman and Murshidabad districts will also be taken to
these places apart from the conventional tourist destinations. The project will
be formally launched on September 20. According to the chairman of WBKVIB, the
MTC will get a big push after Durga Puja ends. According to a senior official
of WBKVIB, another advantage of taking foreigners on the circuit is that, as
has been noticed, having a knack for joining hands with weavers in the making
of handmade fine fabric, watching the production process on their own will
increase their chances of buying the products. WBKVIB has also created the
basic infrastructure of sales outlets, resting rooms, bathroom facilities and
restaurants for light tea and snacks at these places for the convenience of
both foreign and Indian tourists. The weavers who have lent out their places
for setting up these infrastructural facilities will also get a token amount
from the Board annually. From making muslin products available at Biswa Bangla
stalls to opening an exclusive outlet named Club Muslin at the Dakshinapan
shopping complex to the WBKVIB adopting a scheme for the upliftment of these
weavers and taking part in fashion shows, both abroad and here, the Bengal
Government has done a lot to revive and popularise this age-old craft. The
Board has also tied up with an NGO that has started selling a wide range of
muslin at its outlet at Nazrul Tirtha in New Town, on the outskirts of Kolkata.
UNI
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