The RCCH Bengal web portal is a Rural Craft and Cultural Hub (RCCH) initiative, led by the Department of MSME&T, West Bengal, in partnership with UNESCO. This initiative focuses on reviving indigenous skills and nurturing art and craft-based entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.
Highlighting West Bengal’s rich cultural diversity—from the majestic Himalayan landscapes to the lush Sundarbans—the RCCH Bengal portal celebrates the region’s traditional crafts, festivals, oral traditions, and ecological wisdom. It not only empowers local artisans but also safeguards and promotes the state’s vibrant heritage, advancing sustainability and inclusivity. With UNESCO’s support, these efforts gain global recognition, placing Bengal’s living traditions on the world stage.
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The vibrant heritage of West Bengal, crafted through generations of tradition, skill, and artistry.
Gouri Rani Jana, Gouri Bala Das, Mithurani Jana from Sabang, Paschim Medinipur receives National Award
A 12 member Chau dance team from Purulia, was invited to perform at ‘A Tapestry of Sacred Music’, organized by Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay, a cultural space located in Singapore’s Marina Bay
Mangalakanta Roy, a 102-year-old Sarinda player from Jalpaiguri, being honoured with the Padma Shri award
Since 2013, the Rural Craft & Cultural Hub (RCCH) initiative—a partnership between the Government of West Bengal and UNESCO—has transformed lives and communities. This timeline reflects a decade of empowering artisans, preserving heritage, and promoting sustainable livelihoods across the state’s rural regions.
The RCCH initiative, in partnership with UNESCO, promotes sustainability by weaving eco-friendly practices into traditional crafts. From using natural, biodegradable materials to employing low-impact crafting techniques, artisans in West Bengal are preserving both the environment and cultural heritage through responsible craftsmanship.
The project emphasizes both the sustainable focus and UNESCO's support for these environmental initiatives within the RCCH framework.
The biodiversity of the state of West Bengal is bountiful of different kinds of natural fibres that grow in different regions of the state. These plant and grass based fibres include bamboo, Sabai, Madurkathi, Sitalpati, Shola, Dhokra. The local communities have been using these fibres since the age-old times for making home utilities and even building houses.
Every fibre has some unique features associated with its strength, smoothness, density, colour, fragility that the user communities understand fully. They therefore process the fibres accordingly to get the desired materials to craft their products which showcase their cultural traditions as well.
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Bengal
Insights into the rich traditions, sustainable craftsmanship, and vibrant stories of West Bengal's artisans through the RCCH Initiative
The RCCH initiative empowers women artisans in rural West Bengal by providing skill development, training, and access to broader markets. Through programs focused on traditional crafts like Kantha embroidery and terracotta sculpture, women gain the tools necessary for financial independence and entrepreneurship. This support not only strengthens their craft but also elevates their status within their communities.
By fostering entrepreneurship and offering business development training, RCCH enables women to thrive as both artisans and leaders. These efforts ensure that women become catalysts for change, driving social progress, preserving cultural heritage.
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Folk Art Centres at the hubs serve as community centres for practising the art and promoting cultural tourism, including heritage tourism. These centres have permanent exhibitions of the local art and craft genres. They also offer accommodation and local cuisine, on request, for visitors.
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2023
