Bhubaneswar: From Sabai craft to Dhokra to tribal jewellery to Bomkai sarees… now you can get these traditional handicraft and handloom products of Odisha at IRCTC website. In its endeavor to boost livelihood of women self-help groups, the Odisha Government is planning to join hands with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to promote the WSHG products on digital platform.
The ORMAS (Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society), an autonomous body functioning under Panchayati Raj Department to encourage self-help groups to take up various economic activities, will team up with the IRCTC for the first time to provide new market avenue to women self-help groups and producer groups (PGs) to display and sell a wide range of their products.
The ORMAS will soon sign a MoU with the IRCTC in this regard, according to the sources.
The initiative will enable the rail passengers travelling through Odisha can explore the traditional handicraft and handloom items of SHGs and order them online. The products will be supplied to the passengers at the nearest station.
After West Bengal and Maharashtra, Odisha will be the third state to partner with the IRCTC to market its handicraft, handloom and food products on the railway website.
A preliminary discussion was held between the IRCTC and ORMAS to roll out the initiative, sources said.