World · India Bureau
Government Loan Revives Traditional Pottery Business in Uttar Pradesh
A resident of Saharanpur has successfully restarted his family's pottery trade with financial support from a state government scheme, creating employment for four workers and expanding operations across northern India.
LSN India ·
Devendra Kumar, a pottery artisan from Jadauda Panda in Saharanpur, has breathed new life into a dormant family business with the help of the Mukhyamantri Matti Kala Rozgar Yojana, a state employment scheme that provided him with a two-lakh rupee loan.
Using the government assistance, Kumar resumed pottery production after the business had remained inactive for some time. He now manufactures a range of clay products including flower pots, decorative items, earthen lamps, idols, and piggy banks, catering to a growing customer base.
The venture has expanded beyond Saharanpur, with orders coming from neighbouring districts including Muzzafarnagar, Charthawali, and Karnal in Haryana. Kumar currently employs four workers in his operation, demonstrating the scheme's potential to generate local employment through traditional crafts.
The initiative reflects efforts by state authorities to support artisans in reviving heritage trades while providing sustainable livelihood opportunities in rural and semi-urban areas.