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ORUPA Artisans

Nabasis Das of ORUPA talks about the organization's aims and achievement.

"Hello, my name is Nabasis Das and I am from Orissa. ORUPA – the Orissa Rural and Urban Producer's Association – was formed with the initiative of a group of like-minded people from different walks of life who felt the need to promote and help save the art and tradition of the state. It was formed in 1990.

"ORUPA envisions the integrated development of the artisans of Orissa. Our mission is to create opportunities and avenues for the development of our crafts and craftspeople, providing design development, marketing support, managerial training, financial links, and other helpful programs for artisans.

"The primary mandate given by the artisans was to help them in developing a marketing network for their products at a fair price. The struggle for marketing brought about a series of secondary issues, which are design, quality and packaging. It is in this context that ORUPA took up two important tasks in the form of providing and strengthening the production base of the artisans, which is technical as well as managerial.

"The marketing wing takes care of quality and timely production along with the promotion of the products in different outlets. Today ORUPA caters to the needs of 3,000 artisan families producing 24 different kinds of crafts all over the state. ORUPA organizes and participates in numerous exhibitions in different parts of the country where representatives participate and sell their products under the brand name of ORUPA. Through such exhibitions, artisans learn from and share ideas with other exhibitors. In addition, direct interaction with customers provides them with valuable feedback. A sense of interdependence is reinforced among the members as they help each other in selling the products.

"Our wide range of handicrafts includes appliqué, rugs and dhurries, brass and bells, cane and bamboo, Pattachitra and tussar silk paintings, palm leaf painting, clay toys, jute products, papier maché, stone carving, terracotta, wood carving and more. It is a great opportunity for us to be associated with Novica. Your every purchase of our products is a direct contribution toward the welfare of the artisans, and demonstrates an appreciation of their artistic skill and diligence."