Clay Doll making training by MCDF

Recently MCDF (Mukti Community Development Fund) organized Krishnanagar Clay Doll making training programme for women empowerment self-help groups (SHGs) aimed at developing entrepreneurship. About 31 village folks were ready to take part in this training and the attendance was satisfactory. The 22-day long training took place between 6th and 28th February at Kumropara, Raidighi. The trainer was Mr. Swapan Bakshi, who hails from Krishnanagar. The SHG members got an opportunity to learn the making of 10-15 different items including animals’ portraits, portraits of Goddesses, symbolic dolls like Doraemon, Air India models etc. Plaster of Paris and mud were used to make the dolls. The entire doll making procedure is time consuming. After making the models, they need to be hardened in a fire, so a “Bhati” is needed prior to making the models. Different sizes of models / Dices are widely used for making the dolls. It takes couple of days more to put the colour and creating the eyes and other miscellaneous finishing touches to complete the whole process. Mr. Bakshi mentioned that regular practice can help a trainee to improve her skills. To accomplish the job successfully, they need to emphasize specially on the finishing work. Some SHG members have shown willingness to engage themselves in this doll making process. Trainees are passionate about the training and confident about their success in the near future.