Lucknow. Matikala Mahotsav-2026 was inaugurated at Khadi Bhawan on Wednesday with the aim of promoting the traditional clay art of the state and providing new employment opportunities to the artisans. Khadi and Village Industries Minister Rakesh Sachan started the festival by cutting the ribbon. He expressed hope that last year's sales record would be broken this year. In the programme, five artisans were given an electric wheel, two were given a pug mill machine and a bank loan check of Rs 2 lakh was given to a beneficiary of the Mukhyamantri Matikala Rozgar Yojana.
Minister Rakesh Sachan said that earthen lamps, toys, sculptures and utensils are an integral part of Indian culture and tradition. The government is working towards strengthening the livelihood of artisans by linking traditional crafts with modern technology, skill training, financial assistance and markets.
48,048 artisan families identified
Uttar Pradesh Matikala Board was formed on July 19, 2018 to promote Matikala in the state. So far 48,048 artisan families have been identified through the Board. To ensure availability of raw material, soil extraction leases have been allotted to 39,468 artisans.
As part of providing modern equipment to the artisans, 18,432 electric wheel and 675 pugmill machines have been distributed so far. The target is to distribute 2,740 additional electric powered chalks and 300 pugmill machines in the financial year 2026-27. Apart from this, 603 pairs of POP dies, 31 machines for painting and 81 machines for making lamps have been made available.
Emphasis on self-employment and training
Under the Chief Minister Matikala Employment Scheme, in the last seven years, 1,333 beneficiaries have been sanctioned loans and established Matikala units. A target has been set to set up 300 additional units by March 2027. During the same period, 18,432 beneficiaries have been given training in modern equipment operation, 1,333 in enterprise operation and 7,836 in craftsmanship.
To provide common facilities to the artisans, Common Facility Centers have been set up in 10 districts including Pilibhit, Rampur, Kannauj, Amroha, Barabanki, Firozabad, Bijnor, Amethi, Bareilly and Jalaun.
The Minister said that the Matikala Festival gives an opportunity to artisans to showcase and sell their products. Last year, products worth more than Rs 5 crore were sold at the festival. Sales are expected to increase this time also. Efforts are being made to increase the income of local artisans and encourage eco-friendly options by promoting traditional products like earthen kulhads, pitchers, jugs and lamps.
At the inauguration of the festival, Shiva Prajapati, Ram Khelavan, Nanha, Ajay and Gayatri of Lucknow were given electric wheel and Pegmill machine was given to Ramesh Kumar and Dilip Kumar. At the same time, Shreya, a resident of Munshiganj, Daliganj, was given a loan check of Rs 2 lakh under the Chief Minister Matikala Rojgar Yojana.
Anil Sagar, Principal Secretary of Handloom and Textile Industries, Khadi and Village Industries and Public Enterprises Department and Shishir, Chief Executive Officer of Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board were present in the program.