Bihar government gears up to sell Madhubani artworks online

MADHUBANI: The state government is now planning to take the online route to market its different art forms of Madhubani.
The industries department has planned to launch an e-commerce portal to promote marketing of Madhubani art. “We are shortly planning to introduce an e-commerce portal for marketing varied forms of Madhubani paintings,” said principal secretary, department of industries, S Siddharth on Wednesday.He was speaking at a seminar organised jointly by the department of industries and Upendra Maharathi Shilp Sansthan, Patna, to commemorate the 88th birthday of the noted artist Godavari Dutta in the auditorium of local Watson School here. The topic of the seminar was ‘Madhubani Painting Ka Bhavishya’.
He asked the district magistrate to constitute a committee of celebrated artists for the purpose of their gradation and standardisation of the art form. “All information about the artist and his/her painting with its price tag will be available on the portal,” he said.
Siddharth also said that Madhubani is an art zone but its true potential cannot be realised unless it is linked with the tourist circuit in the state. Addressing the concern of artists voiced by noted painter Shivan Paswan about the financial hardships and unavailability of loans from banks, Siddhartha assured them to make finances available through a ‘pool fund’ as being done for the handloom sector.
“The quantum of amount to be loaned for painters and various handicraft artists will have to be decided by the artists themselves, keeping in mind their requirements. Besides, granting of collaterals by the state government on the recommendation of noted artists like Padma awardees or ‘Shilp Gurus’ in cases of select individual artists requiring larger loan amount, can also be considered,” he added.
He also welcomed a suggestion for insurance cover being given to the artists and assured to do the needful.
Speaking on the occasion, DM Sirstha Kapil Ashok said Madhubani paintings now adorn the walls of Madhubani railway station. The walls have been transformed into beautiful piece of art. “The circuit house is also being beautifully decked up with Madhubani art,” the DM added and said that he also intends to set up a ‘Shilp Gram’, on the pattern of ‘Dilli Haat’, with food court and other facilities on NH-57 so that tourists are lured to visit Madhubani.