Margao:The Kunbi Handloom Crafts Village being developed in Sanguem is in the final stages of completion, with almost 90% of the work done. However, a significant cost overrun and paucity of funds have cast a shadow over its timely delivery.The project, situated near the picturesque Selaulim dam, is being implemented by the Goa Handicrafts, Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC) under the National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP).The project has been developed at a cost of Rs 12.7 crore. It is funded primarily by the Union ministry of textiles through the development commissioner (handloom), which has contributed Rs 10 crore, of which Rs 5 crore has been released so far. State govt has sanctioned and released its share of Rs 2.7 crore. Work on the project physically commenced on May 20, 2024.Sources closely associated with the project said costs shot up after chief minister Pramod Sawant suggested additions and modifications during his last visit to the site. With both Centre and state yet to release the remainder of their respective shares, the project is caught in an agonising wait at the finish line.The project aims to set up permanent infrastructure and marketing facilities for handicraft artisans and handloom weavers of the Gawda, Kunbi and Velip communities, enabling them to sell their products year-round to a wider customer base. It also seeks to create direct and indirect employment for local populations, provide a platform for learning and sharing traditional crafts and offer eco-tourism facilities for domestic and international visitors.Though named after the Kunbi community, the village will not be a preserve of tribals alone — it will be accessible to all artisans.Officials said that the project would help safeguard indigenous traditions, revitalise traditional handloom techniques, document tribal knowledge systems and train younger generations in traditional crafts.The village is expected to attract tourists to Sanguem, generate direct employment for locals as guides, artisans and home-stay operators, and boost demand for local products and services, creating an economic multiplier effect for the region.An official said, “The traditional artisan community has faced numerous challenges in recent decades, from mechanisation to the loss of traditional knowledge. This village will reinvigorate their crafts and empower the artisans,” he added.
