Textile tourism project on the anvil

SHOT IN THE ARM FOR TS GOVT

• Centre to set up a craft village each in Warangal, Bhadrachalam
• Craft village in Warangal to promote leatherwear, Banjara embroidery and cotton durries
• Govt constitutes panel with TS Chief Secretary to give a big boost to tourism in the State

Warangal/Khammam: If you are planning a trip to Warangal or Bhadrachalam, there would soon be an interesting tourist spot. Like the popular wine tourism in Europe, the Central Government is planning to promote textile tourism by establishing a craft village each in Warangal and Bhadrachalam. The textile tourism is aimed at promoting the unique handloom textiles and handicrafts manufactured in the region.

Thanks to the ‘Vastratan’, an ambitious project being formulated by the Ministries of Textile and Tourism. The multi-dimensional project is envisaged to promote marketing facilities to artisans apart from ensuring the survival of rich crafts and traditions apart from developing the tourism in the country. At a time when the region has not much to show on the tourism front, especially after the State bifurcation, the project has come like a shot in the arm for the Telangana government.

Although the project is still in the nascent stage, it would be soon implemented with support from the Central government. Vastratan, said to be one of the dream projects of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had been conceived jointly by the Ministries of Tourism and Textiles adding a new dimension to tourism in the country by leveraging the rich cultural heritage of Indian handicrafts and handlooms.

After the Ministries of Tourism and Textile forwarded the proposal of Vastratan to the State a few weeks ago, the government has zeroed in on setting up of a craft village each in Warangal and Bhadrachalam (Khammam). While the proposed craft village in Fort Warangal is likely to promote leatherwear, Banjara embroidery and cotton durries, the other one coming up near temple town Bhadrachalam will give a huge fillip to the hand-made products of the Adivasis such as bamboo, embroidery, palm leaf products and wood carving.

It is also of immense help in initiating measures to create an institutionalised marketing facility for the Adivasis to sell their bamboo-based products and augment their income. On the other hand, the craft village at Fort Warangal will be a value addition to the proposed textile park in the region.Meanwhile, the government, on a high priority, set up a seven-member steering committee under the chairmanship of TS Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma to explore augmenting the other available resources to make the tourist circuit more vibrant, effective and impactful.

With the development of craft villages as destination villages, wayside amenities, state-of-art mega showroom-cum sales centre in Hyderabad, opening of souvenir shops and organising state-level major fairs, both the craft villages will be on the tourist map of the country and also the world. It may be mentioned here that way back in 2009 the State government had mooted a craft village near Fort Warangal on the lines of Shilparamam in Hyderabad, but the project was shelved even before the administration had identified the suitable location.

By:Adepu Mahender