Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), Mana, the last Indian village from the border of India and Tibet/China in the Himalayas, is one of the best examples to show how skill development has worked in a remote area.
Here’s it’s important to note that Mana village has been designated as a ‘Tourism Village’ by the Uttarakhand Government. Just 3 km away from the town of Badrinath, Mana, at an altitude of 12,000 ft., remains one of best tourist attractions near Badrinath.
Total 40 artisans of the village got trained; however, there were many challenges such as the high altitude of the village, lack of skill and design input, decentralised distribution of inhabitants and the unwillingness of the new generation to take forward their traditional crafts owing to urbanisation.
The products produced in Mana lacked new designs and product adaptation leading to lesser selling opportunities and also migration of artisans from the native place. The items traditionally produced here included raw wool products.
The villagers of this village live in small cottages that are decorated and carved gracefully. Mana is famous for its many things like woollen garments and materials (Mostly of Sheep wool), shawls, caps, muffler, ashan, pankhi (A thin blanket made of Sheep wool), carpet etc.
