BHUBANESWAR: The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under the MSME ministry has started a project for footwear manufacturing at Dasapalla in Nayagarh district on a pilot basis.
It got under way with a two-month training of 20 local leather artisans beginning Friday. They belong to two self-help groups (SHGs) of Dasapalla. “The master trainers of the Central Footwear Technology Institute, Agra, will train the artisans in new footwear design and manufacturing,” KVIC state director Samir Kumar Mohanty said. He added that their ancestors have been engaged in manufacturing leather articles since the 15th century.
For the training programme, machines and tools have been kept in a building of the Dasapalla NAC. “After the completion of the training, these equipment worth Rs 5 lakh will be provided to the trainees. Assistance will also be provided to open new sales counters,” the director said.
Mohanty said the women artisans will be taught to use technology in designing footwear.
The Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) has signed an MoU with KVIC to provide marketing support to the artisans and help them partcipate in exhibitions.
