The West Bengal government’s efforts to revive the traditional arts and crafts of Bengal has finally got international recognition.
The two kinds of mats — sitalpati and madur — and the shalpata plate has received Unesco recognition for being traditional handicrafts.
The West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board, a statutory body under the state MSME and textile departments, has been working to revive and promote sitalpati, madur, shalpata plates and other such traditional Bengali handicraft items.
According to government officials, madur sticks are primarily produced in East and West Midnapore, whereas sitalpati sticks are produced in areas of Cooch Behar.
