PM distributes 1,000 electric pottery wheels among Kumhars: KVIC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday distributed 1,000 electric pottery wheels along with other pottery equipment among the potters in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, said the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under its Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana has identified another 1,000 potters in Varanasi for distribution of electric pottery wheels, pug-mills and blungers.

In a statement, KVIC said the training of those 1,000 has already been completed. These 1,000 electric pottery wheels, 100 pug-mills and 100 blungers will create direct employments for 4,800 persons in the Varanasi region as each machine provides direct jobs to four persons.

"Since Varanasi and surrounding areas have a significant number of Kumhar people, the demand for more electric pottery wheels has come in a big way after its distribution by the prime minister," KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said.

According to him, KVIC had requested the Railways to make the use of these products mandatory at Varanasi and Raebareli railway stations to incorporate the terracotta products, including Kulhads, glasses and plates.

Saxena said KVIC has identified the artisans for pottery with the help of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council in villages such as Likhit, Saspole and Matho of the Leh region which will create direct employment for 720 people.

"We have set a target of distributing another 10,000 electric pottery wheels with 1,000 pug-mills and 1,000 blungers by March 31 this year, which will subsequently create 48,000 direct employments to the people belonging to the Kumhar community," the KVIC chairman added.