Handicrafts can help generation of foreign revenue: Vaghela

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) Union Minister for Textiles Shankersinh Vaghela today said Indian handicrafts could play a pivotal role in furthering the tourism sector in the country and help boost its foreign revenue in a big way.

''Our country is home to myraid cultures and traditions. Its vast and age-old tradition attracts a large number of tourists every year. But if some extra effort is put on capturing its true potential, than it can encourage the tourism sector in a remarkable way, resulting in catapulting the foreign exchange of the country,'' he said while inaugurating the 'Cottage Art Gallery' at Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan here.

Mr Vaghela said it was a notable effort to start the art gallery which would not only provide a common platform to artisans from across the country for showcasing their talent, but also give an opportunity to the artlovers and connoisseurs to explore their work under one roof.

The one of its kind gallery will bring to fore the not-so-publicised work of the artist community and guarantee them remeunerative prices for their craft propucts which was otherwise not possible in their respective states.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Textiles E V K S Elangovan said the need of the hour was to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the country in order to pass this valuable legacy to the successive generations.

''Focus should be on exploiting the handicraft sector to its fullest and bringing the rich tradition to limelight so that it can be witnessed and understood by our existing generation and treasured for the coming generations. It will ensure that our heritage will not be consigned to oblivion in the future.'' Besides giving the craftsmen an opportunity to exhibit their talent, the art gallery would help in creation of employment for six million artisans in the country, thereby making them self-reliant, he said, adding the art gallery would prove a milestone in promoting art and culture and ensuring a better quality of life for the artisans.

High Commissioner of New Zealand Gram Waters stressed that India and New Zealand could co-operate in the handicrafts industry and work together to encourage the tourism sector by means of handicrafts.

New Zealand can become a supplier of raw materials and other required things to India and this could be vice-versa. The two countries can showcase their heritage and culture through artifacts and paintings which would bring the work of their artisans to international arena, he added.

Work is under way to build theatre, gallery, among other facilities, in the art gallery to make it a world-class cottage, informed Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) Sanjay Agarwal.

''A theatre and gallery is being constructed in the cottage where theme-based fair would be organised to give maximum exposure to the artisans. Similarly, documentaries related to their work will be shown in the theatre so that the art lovers can gain more information about them and their work,'' Mr Agarwal added.

The art gallery, located in the heart of the city, will house traditional Indian paintings from every nook and cranny of the country.

Art lovers would get to witness an assortment of paintings like Pichhwai paintings from Nathdwara, Tanjore from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Miniature paintings from Kota, Bundi, Kishangarh, Bikaner, Udaipour.

Besides, paintings in palmleaf, patta chita, tussa will also adorn the gallery. Folk and tribal paintings from Madhubani, Worli, pithora and gond bhiti chita will also enrich the collection.

UNI