To speed up the social and economic empowerment of backward classes in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government has started preparing to give a new identity to traditional skills and professions. In the recently held monthly meeting of the State Backward Classes Commission, the proposal of formation of 'Shri Anna Kala Board' was discussed in detail to protect the traditional grain roasting business of Bhurji, Bhojwal and Bhadbhuja communities and to connect it with the modern market.
Through this proposed board, there is a plan to provide modern technology, skill training, easy loans, subsidies and a big market to the traditional artisans. It is being seen as an effort to provide a bigger market to local skills at the national and international level by linking it with schemes like 'Atmanirbhar Uttar Pradesh' and 'One District One Product' (ODOP).
Traditional skills will get institutional protection
This important meeting held in the office of State Backward Classes Commission located in Lucknow was presided over by Commission Chairman Rajesh Verma. In the meeting, there was an in-depth discussion on the effective implementation of various public welfare schemes being run for the backward classes and timely delivery of benefits of government schemes to the eligible people.
The Commission received S.K. Taking cognizance of Singhania's letter, the suggestion of forming a separate board for the people of Bhurji, Bhojwal and Bhadbhuja communities involved in the traditional business of roasting grains was brainstormed. Under this proposal, the artisans will not be limited to just providing traditional protection, but special attention will also be given to linking their skills with modern food processing technology.
Loans and subsidies will give new impetus to business
Under the concept of 'Shri Anna Kala Board', work can be done to provide bank loans and government subsidies on very easy terms to the people engaged in this traditional business. With this, artisans will be able to give a modern form to their old style work and will be able to reach new markets by increasing their production capacity.
The simple idea of the government is to directly link traditional skills with employment and self-employment opportunities, so that economic activities get accelerated at the local level and a good increase in the daily income of these artisans can be recorded.
Market for local skills on the lines of ODOP
There is also a plan to link the proposed 'Shri Anna Kala Board' with the model of Uttar Pradesh's ambitious scheme 'One District One Product' (ODOP). Just as local products and traditional skills have been branded and given a market under ODOP, similarly the traditional business of roasting grains will also be given an organized and corporate form.
This initiative will open new avenues for branding, packaging, quality control and large-scale expansion of traditional products in the market.
Detailed information will be collected from four states
During the meeting, another important proposal related to the formation of Vishwakarma Welfare Commission or Vishwakarma Skill Development Board was also discussed. After brainstorming on the letter related to determining the share in power and governance of Vishwakarma Samaj, the Commission has decided to collect information from four major states of the country.
Under this, a complete study of the arrangements related to Vishwakarma Welfare Commission or Skill Development Board implemented in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Haryana will be done. The Secretary of the Commission has been instructed to take necessary legal and administrative action in this regard.
Benefits will reach eligible people in a transparent manner
Commission Chairman Rajesh Verma clarified that complaints related to Other Backward Classes are being resolved expeditiously in the Commission on priority basis. He said that the main aim is to deliver the benefits of all the public welfare schemes of the state government in a transparent manner to the eligible people standing at the last rung of the society and especially to the backward classes.
He stressed on the use of latest technology in the implementation of the schemes, so that the benefits can be delivered directly to the eligible beneficiaries by eliminating middlemen.
Preparation to connect traditional businesses with the new economy
Through the proposal of 'Shri Anna Kala Board', the government's aim is not to be limited to preserving the traditional skill only as a cultural heritage, but to connect it with skill development, food processing, self-employment and global market.
If the proposal for formation of this board is finally passed, then a strong structure of training, financial assistance and market linkage will be prepared for the skilled people of Bhurji, Bhojwal and Bhadbhuja communities. This will go a long way in realizing the dream of 'self-reliant Uttar Pradesh' by combining traditional business with new technology and business opportunities.