In a Diwali gift to artisans preserving traditional clay art, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued a directive ensuring that potters in any village, even if only one artisan is present, will be provided a pond or land for digging clay, without the need to apply.
The order, issued by Principal Secretary Ranveer Prasad based on a proposal from the Mati Kala Board (Clay Art Board), cites Para 178 of the Chakbandi Manual, which allows reservation of land for potters in villages with a very low number of artisans. The government has implemented this system across 97,941 villages in all 822 blocks of the state.
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LK Nag, Planning Officer of the Mati Kala Board, said the proposal was sent to the government last year and was approved on October 9. The initiative is expected to eliminate clay shortages and provide a significant boost to the traditional art form.
Artisan Rajesh Prajapati from Chinhat, Lucknow, welcomed the move, saying disputes over clay digging in villages like Laulai often created difficulties for potters. He added that the government order will empower artisans, with the Revenue Department responsible for arranging ponds or land for clay.
Dr SK Pandey, Nodal Officer of the Mati Kala Board, said the initiative will benefit potters across both rural and urban areas, fulfilling a long-standing demand from the artisan community and supporting the preservation and advancement of traditional clay art.