South Asia Foundation honoured Sh. Francisco Martins, a renowned artist from Goa & two traditional bamboo artisans Sh Vijay Jadhav & Smt. Rukmini Harijan by Hon’ble Governor of Chhatisgarh, Shri Shekhar Dutt.
July 27, 2013, Panaji, Goa:
South Asia Foundation successfully launched the micro-finance in the city for the artisans of North Goa at Kala Academy Goa, Panaji on July 27, 2013 in a glitering functioned in the presence of more than 100 SHG leaders and Nationalised Banks’ officials.
Hon’ble Governor of Chhatisgarh, Shri Shekhar Dutt SM while launching the micro-finance initiative of the South Asia Foundation emphasized on promoting artisans work and effective micro-finance support to the artisans of Goa.
He quoted “NABARD and Nationalised Scheduled Banks-can play a big role for promoting artisans of Goa.” He further commented that South Asia Foundation is indeed doing a commendable job by taking micro-finance initiative for the Goan artisans. And also shared some brilliant ideas on how we can effectively place the Goan products on a global platform.
Officials from the NABARD, Bank of India, Syndicate Bank were also on the occasion and pledged full support to the initiative of the Foundation and announced that these Banks will work for the development of the Artisans of Goa by infusing effective mico-finance advances starting with training in various categories.
Shri Francisco Martins, Shri Vijay Jadhav from Koregaon and Smt. Rukmini Harijan from Thane Valpoi were honoured and presented a token of appreciation for their contribution in promoting the arts and crafts of Goa on a national and international platforms. They are also closely associated and part of the South Asia Foundation’s many initiatives in Goa.
Hon’ble Governor of Chattisgarh Shri Shekhar Dutt SM also presented a tribal arte-fact of Chhatisgarh, made of bell metal, as a token of appreciation to Shri Rahul Barua, Secretary General of the South Asia Foundation.
Shri Rahul Barua, reiterated and assured the artisans and the Banks that Foundation will continue to play a strong hand-holding role in Goa so as to promote artisans’ way of life and enhancing their livelihood to create a sustainable model of development that could be artisan led. He further added that though the country has given equal opportunity to all for development but we have failed to ensure equal participation from all walks of life into the national mainstream and keeping this in mind, the Foundation is working towards all round development of the artisans.
Further, South Asia Foundation has announced to launch its brand Handmade in Goa soon for the development and benefit of the Goan artisans and their artefacts. On this occasion, Foundation further has assured all the artisans that this micro-finance initiative will help them enhance their productivity and livelihood. The Foundation has adopted Thane, a remote village of Valpoi, Morlem of Honda, Keri, Korgaon, Harambol, Virnoda, Paliyem, Poraskadem of Pernem and Taleigao of Tiswadi for a comprehensive development of the artisans in the first phase.