Vedanta revives ‘Dhokra’ artform to create livelihoods

NEW DELHI: Vedanta, India’s largest producer of aluminium and its value-added products, is reviving traditional artforms like Dhokra, mural and tribal paintings in the regions where it operates. On April 15, 2021, i.e., World Art Day, Vedanta launched advanced product design training for artisans of Dhokra, a beautiful metalworking artform with origins dating back to the Indus Valley civilization, in Lanjigarh, Odisha. The company also organised an exhibition and competition of tribal arts for local artists to encourage adoption of arts & crafts as a means of sustainable livelihood in the region.

Ajay Kapur, CEO - Aluminium & Power Business and Managing Director - Commercial at Vedanta Ltd., says, “These art forms are a cultural heritage of our nation. We strive to patronize these indigenous art forms and nurture the creative potential of the rural artisans which remains unexplored with the mainstream world. Vedanta strives to enable communities in, around and far beyond the areas where it operates, to become empowered and self-reliant participants in the economic progress of the country. Our endeavours have brought not just recognition for the Dhokra artisans of Kankeri but also created a new market for them, resulting in more business and increased household income. Even today, we continue to upskill these naturally gifted artisans and help them get the recognition they deserve at national and international platforms.”