New Delhi: A Centre to promote the indigenous crafts of India and contribute to a sustainable cultural economy with a vision to achieve self-reliance was launched here by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (December 8).
The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design (ABCD) has been named ‘Project Aatman’. It is housed in a colonial-era barrack on the premises of the Red Fort complex in Delhi. The Centre was inaugurated along with the maiden India Art, Architecture & Design Biennale (IAADB), which will be open to the public from December 9-15.
PM Modi launched the Centre with a click of a button from a dais set up in a temporary pavilion at the venue. ‘Project Aatman’ is helmed by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), which comes under the purview of the Ministry of Culture.
दिल्ली के लाल किला में ‘इंडिया आर्ट, आर्किटेक्चर एंड डिज़ाइन बिनाले’ का आगाज हो चुका है, जो प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी के एक भारत श्रेष्ठ भारत के विजन को दर्शाता है। 9 से 15 दिसंबर, सुबह 10 बजे से शाम 5 बजे तक आप भी आएं और इसका हिस्सा बनें।#IAADB2023 #AmritMahotsav pic.twitter.com/LXHMN2Sv0V
— Ministry of Culture (@MinOfCultureGoI) December 11, 2023
The IGNCA has “set up the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design (ABCD) to pave the way for a sustainable cultural economy derived from the indigenous crafts of India by empowering the artisan communities with new designs and innovations”, according to the IGNCA website. This Centre is housed in a colonial-era barrack, from the year 1861, on the Red Fort premises, a site of historical and cultural importance, it said.
It added,
What is strikingly outstanding about this Centre (ABCD) is its philosophy to facilitate a self-reliant India, a mission led by the Prime Minister of India in relation to the economic development of the country. Due to rapid global industrialisation and technological advancement, the traditional handicraft sector has suffered a setback in the competing markets of today. To sustain, the crafts need to be moulded in a form that is in sync with evolved needs and preferences of urban consumers.
Also Read: Ayurveda Goes Beyond Treating Illness, Promotes Wellness, Says Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Therefore, it has become necessary to facilitate innovation in crafts that will lead to creation of “interesting juxtaposition of traditional skills and contemporary taste”, officials said.
The IGNCA said,
This Centre will not only reinvent the craft sector, but will also provide economic stability and livelihood to the people associated with it. As we celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence, Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design will be a one-of-a-kind platform showcasing a part of our heritage for the citizens of our nation and international visitors to learn from, engage with, and appreciate.
The mega event was inaugurated by Modi at the Red Fort complex and seven “specially-curated” thematic pavilions have been set up in three British-era barracks located on the premises of the Mughal-era monument.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
