Patiala – With the objective of promoting the traditional Punjabi embroidery art of Phulkari and empowering rural women artisans, a 'One District One Product' (ODOP) program is being organized within the Phulkari cluster in the village of Thuha, Patiala district. This initiative is supported by the Export-Import Bank of India.
The program is being spearheaded by Patiala Handicraft WCIS Ltd., an organization that has long been dedicated to making rural artisans—particularly women—self-reliant through the medium of Phulkari art.
Under this project, artisans are being provided with modern training, design development support, information regarding new machinery and tools, and facilities to establish market linkages. The aim is to enhance the quality of Phulkari products and facilitate their reach into both national and international markets.
Speaking on the occasion, Rekha Maan—a National Award winner in the field of Phulkari art and the head of the organization—stated that this initiative would not only help preserve the traditional heritage of Phulkari but also generate new opportunities for employment and income for rural women.
Under the ODOP framework, this Phulkari cluster in Thuha is poised to emerge in the near future as a robust model for the economic empowerment of artisans and for the promotion and dissemination of Punjab's traditional handicrafts.
During this workshop, ten skilled women artisans who have demonstrated exceptional work in the field of Phulkari were felicitated.
The 'One District One Product' (ODOP) initiative was organized in collaboration with the Mumbai-based Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank). This workshop was organized by Ms. Rekha Maan (National Award Winner), President of Patiala Handicraft WCIS Ltd. Its primary objective was to promote and strengthen the traditional art of Phulkari, as well as to support artisans through skill development and by facilitating market opportunities.