PANAJI
A Rs 20-crore 'handicrafts village' will be set up on a 16,000 square metre parcel of land in Sanguem, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday.
While addressing an event to promote tribal handloom, Sawant said the 'handicraft village' will be funded on a 50-50 basis by the Centre and the State governments.
The Centre will contribute Rs 10 crore and the State will put in another Rs 10 crore, Sawant said, while speaking at the 'Kunbi Handloom' revival initiated through Off Farmers Producer Organisation (OFPO).
The initiative has received sanction of funding to the tune of Rs 50 lakh by NABARD. The State government is planning to revive two handloom centres at Korgao and Sanguem.
OFPO is an entity formed by artisans, weavers, craftsmen among others.
Sawant meanwhile has said that his administration will soon issue general orders to ensure 100% use of 'Kunbi Shawls' for State functions so as to popularize them.
The chief minister also spoke of the initiative wherein around 1,000 women -- 500 in North Goa and 500 in South Goa -- were trained. He also promised easy access to loans at low interest rates for artisans registering with Goa Handicrafts.
