Lucknow :

The artisans of Chikan and Zardoji have beenprovided space by NABARD and HCBL Co-operative Bank Limited in the Lucknow Mahotsava to display and market their products. Inside the NABARD pavilion, two stalls have been given to the Chikan and Zardoji artisans whom HCBL Bank had provided financial assistance.

The CEO of HCBL Bank Limited, Pawan Kapoor, said that bank has provided these artisans loans at low interest rates and specialincentives. He said that under the financial inclusion program theHCBL Bank has not only disbursed loans but provided space at bank branches to market their products.

The Chikan and Zardoji stalls at NABARD camp in Mahotsava have been getting great respone from public. Kapoor said that artisans have beenselling their produce at the Mahotsava stall with bare minimum profitand one can get authentic Chikankaari and Zardoji works here.

Chikankari and Zardoji are the traditional crafts of Lucknow city, which are widely appreciated all over the world. The HCBL Bank said it is committed to promote the age old art of Chikankari, for which the State of Uttar Pradesh is famous.

Earlier in July, KK Gupta, chief general manager of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Lucknow had distributed cheques of financial assistance to artisans and craftsmen at the Alambagh branch of the bank. At that time has assured artisans that in the coming Lucknow Festival, five stalls would be provided by NABARD to display and sell their products.

NABARD provides training to the artisans about latest trend and designs in Chikankari. This is the third phase of financial assistance extended to the artisans by the HCBL Bank. Earlier in August and December 2013 too, the Bank had organized similar events in which a large number of artisans had benefited.

HCBL Bank said it also aims at providing point of sale options to the artisans to sell their products at branch offices. “This will not only help the artisans to show case their products and art but also earn a reasonable income through such sales, said the bank.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Priyanka Singh, TNN / December 05th, 2014