The Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is studying the two styles of Kalamkari art in the State to give a fillip on the front of adaptation of technology to improve domestic and overseas market for a range of textile products.
The APEDB is likely to come out with necessary initiations to help the industry face its existing challenges. The ongoing ground-level study was mainly aimed at asses the competitiveness of these two styles of Kalamkari — Sri Kalahasti and Machilipatnam (Pedana) — in the State.
“The State government is planning to come up with an exclusive initiation to boost the industry. The study will explore areas in which the government can help the industry,” said Srujith Lingala, a research scholar of the study and representing the State government. Mr. Srujith, a student of School of International and Public Affairs of the Columbia University, New York, has already completed his study on Sri Kalahasti style.
“Advisor to State government (E-Governance and IT) J. Satyanarayana will submit the final report of the study to the APEDB by August 15. The State government will help the industry to face challenges existing in the industry at various levels,” said Mr. Srijith. Mr. Srijith accompanied by Machilipatnam Revenue Divisional Officer P. Saibaba on Monday interacted with the owners of the Kalamkari production units and documented their challenges.
Access to institutional credit and involvement of women in the government’s women empowerment schemes are a few areas of the study to assess the involvement and requirement of human resources and skilled workforce in the Kalamkari production units.
