‘Govt open to increasing cash subsidy for clay idols’

Panaji: The Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC) chairperson, Pravin Arlekar, said on Friday that govt was open to raising the financial support provided under the ‘clay idol makers subsidy scheme’. The subsidy for artisans has recently been hiked from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per idol, with a cap of 250 idols.

“Govt is committed to supporting the craftsmanship and livelihood of clay idol makers in the state. I will move a proposal in the next session of the state legislative assembly that we should consider providing Rs 500 to the artisans for every clay idol,” he told the reporters in Panaji. He said that this year, the department has distributed pug mill clay mixing machines to the artisans registered with govt.

GHRSSIDC managing director, Ajay Gaude, said that last year a total of 388 artisans who produced 55,921 idols. “So only 388 artisans who were registered for the scheme for 2023-24 are eligible for availing the subsidy,” he said