1000-yrs Old Monpa Handmade Paper Industry brought alive in AP

1000-yrs Old Monpa Handmade Paper Industry brought alive in AP

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Policies and Interventions

In news 

• The 1000-year old heritage art – the Monpa Handmade Paper of Arunachal Pradesh – which was driven to the extinction has been revived with the committed efforts of  Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

Key takeaways 

• The art of making Monpa handmade paper originated over 1000 years ago. 
• This handmade paper was a major source of livelihood for the locals.
• However, the handmade paper industry almost disappeared in the last 100 years.
• Recently, KVIC commissioned a Monpa handmade paper making unit in Tawang which aims at reviving the art and engaging the local youths with this art professionally and earn. 
• The Monpa handmade paper, will be made from the bark of a local tree called Shugu Sheng, which has medicinal values too. Hence availability of raw material will not be a problem.

Do you know? 

• The fine-textured handmade paper, which is called Mon Shugu in the local dialect, is integral to the vibrant culture of the local tribes in Tawang. 
• The paper has great historic and religious significance as it is the paper used for writing Buddhist scriptures and hymns in monasteries. 
• Apart from handmade paper, Tawang is known for two other local crafts – handmade pottery and handmade furniture – that are also getting extinct with passage of time. 
• It was announced that within six months, plans will be rolled out for revival of these two local arts

Important value additions 

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) 

• It is a statutory body formed in April 1957 (as per an RTI) by the Government of India, under the Act of Parliament, ‘Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956’. 
• It is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. 
• Vision – To plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural development wherever necessary.
• In April 1957, it took over the work of former All India Khadi and Village Industries Board.
• Head office: Mumbai
• Six zonal offices: Delhi, Bhopal, Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai and Guwahati.