States » NorthPosted at: Oct 29 2026 12:05AM


Mati Kala Mahotsav-2026 begins in Lucknow, over 48,000 artisan families identified

Lucknow, Oct 28 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Minister Rakesh Sachan said on Wednesday that the state government is working towards making artisans self-reliant by connecting traditional clay art with modern technology, entrepreneurship, and the market.

The government's aim is to increase the income of artisans and make their art a powerful medium for employment and self-employment.
Sachan inaugurated the 11-day Mati Kala Mahotsav-2026 and state-level exhibition organized by the Uttar Pradesh Mati Kala Board at the Khadi Bhawan complex in Dalibagh here on Wednesday. The festival, organized on the theme "Culture from Soil, Prosperity from Culture," will continue until November 7.
He said that traditional and modern clay art products, home decor items, and artifacts prepared by artisans from various districts of the state are being exhibited and sold. Principal Secretary of the department, Anil Kumar Sagar, was also present on the occasion.
The Minister stated that clay art is an integral part of the state's cultural heritage and rural life. Efforts are being made to connect artisans' traditional art with new opportunities by providing them with modern equipment, financial assistance, and better markets.
He stated that emphasis is also being placed on product quality, attractive design, packaging, branding, and digital marketing, ensuring artisans receive fair prices for their products.
He informed that the Uttar Pradesh Clay Art Board was established on July 19, 2018. More than 48,000 artisan families have been identified through the Board so far. Approximately 40,000 artisans have been provided land and lease facilities to ensure the availability of clay.
According to Sachan, more than 18,400 electric potter's wheels have been distributed in the state so far to modernize clay art. The target is to provide an additional 2,740 electric potter's wheels in the current financial year.
He informed that more than 1,300 enterprises have been established so far under the Chief Minister's Mati Kala Rojgar Yojana, while a target has been set to establish 300 new enterprises in the current financial year.
He informed that 10 Common Facility Centers have been established in Pilibhit, Rampur, Kannauj, Amroha, Barabanki, Firozabad, Bijnor, Amethi, Bareilly, and Jalaun to provide shared production facilities to artisans.
Sachan stated that the target is to provide skill training to approximately 4,900 artisans in the current financial year. 128 cooperative societies have also been registered to organize artisans.
During the program, electric potter's wheels were provided to five artisans and pug mills to two. Loan approval letters were also distributed to beneficiaries of the Chief Minister's Mati Kala Rojgar Yojana.
The Minister appealed to the public to adopt the products of local artisans and encourage the spirit of 'Vocal for Local'.
He said that efforts will continue to strengthen the rural economy by making clay art technically capable and to provide a wider market to traditional crafts.
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Tags: #Mati Kala Mahotsav-2026 begins in Lucknow# over 48#000 artisan families identified
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