Image used for representative purpose. Workers in the process of making the distinctive ‘Athangudi tile’ at Athangudi village in Sivagangai district. , photo credit: K Ganesan
The last two decades have witnessed a steady decline of traditional artisans in the country with skills – be it art, craft or manufacturing practices – that have traditionally been passed down from generation to generation. The decline is evident as the current generation of ‘artisans’ no longer want to be artisans. This has resulted in a rapidly disappearing traditional skill-set as well as the crafts in which traditional artisans were experts.
Recognizing the need for a strong program to revive the vanishing heritage and save the vanishing skill, the Indian Institute of Interior Designers, Bengaluru Regional Chapter (IIID BRC) has entered into an association with Madhurya, an art revival unit in South Bengaluru. have started engagements (working to revive traditional arts, crafts and weaving) in the last decade from across the country and the Sri Sri Rural Development Program (SSRDP) is involved in making hand-made tiles.
SSRDP also has skilling packages in several disciplines such as electrical, solar energy, carpentry and plumbing to allow youth direct employment in the construction industry as skilled workers under the National Skill Development Council (NSDC). Trained and certified.
IIID BRC along with a team of 30 practicing architects from Bengaluru will visit the Rural Development Program Center on 1st April to support construction methods to address the country’s rapidly disappearing heritage arts and crafts as well as low skill base and methods of revival can be found. dodging the industry.
Architect Kavita Shastri, Chairperson, IIID BRC said, “The current level of skilled workforce in the construction industry does not match the growing requirement, which raises serious concerns as it directly affects the quality of construction as well as utilities installed . It is commendable that SSRDP has taken this initiative in association with NSDC to skill the youth for the construction industry. It is important for organizations like IIID to support such initiatives and take them on a larger scale so as to enhance the skill base in the construction industry.
Air Commodore (Retd) RN Merani, Chairman, SSRDP, said, “Such support is necessary to ensure growth in the skill base among the youth and is especially relevant in the construction industry where we expect demand for skilled workers. to boom in the years to come. Our efforts to revive Athangudi Tiles also need equal support. We actively partner with IIID BRC to successfully take forward such revival and skilling of workers Let’s hope so.”
Bharti Harish, Director, Madhurya welcomed the participation of IIID BRC to address the revival of fast disappearing heritage arts and crafts. “Whether it is age-old weaving, Tanjore, Pichwai paintings, Athangudi tiles and many more, it is important that architects and interior designers support these traditional arts to keep them alive in their use in interiors. We are hopeful that with this initiative of IIID BRC, we will see a revival in the market for these traditional arts and crafts.
The architects will visit the Athangudi Tiles manufacturing unit, where some of them will also try their hand at physically making the tiles. The walk through the skill-centre facility will conclude with the architects discussing possible areas of collaboration and action points to take forward to ensure concrete outcomes of the visit.