Lucknow, June 6 (IANS): Skilled workers who earn their livelihood through pottery will benefit from the initiative of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, according to which a Micro Mati Kala Common Facility Centre (CFC) would be formed in every division of the state.

The cost of a CFC will be Rs 12.5 lakh with the government contributing Rs 10 lakh. The remaining amount will have to be borne by a society or an institution concerned.

The land, if not available with the institution or society, will be provided by the Gram Sabha.

The CFCs will be formed in nine divisions in the first phase. These will include centres on terracotta in Gorakhpur, Banarasi silk sarees in Varanasi, carpets in Mirzapur, leather products in Agra, brass goods in Moradabad, zari products in Bareilly, sports goods in Meerut, black tracks in Azamgarh and other products in Allahabad.

The proposals of Rampur-Moradabad division and Pilibhit-Bareilly division are already in the pipeline while the proposals of other boards will soon follow. In the second phase, similar centres are to be built in the rest of the divisions.

Each centre will have gas-powered furnaces, pugmills, electric pottery chuck and other equipment for processing the earth into clay. The workers will also have all facilities for developing their products under one roof.

The CM has directed that maximum number of people should be provided employment through these centres.

Khadi and Village Industries Principal Secretary Navneet Sehgal said, "If the products are of quality and their prices are reasonable, there would be a good demand for them in the market. This will increase employment opportunities at the local level for the people associated with the trade. Besides, lifting soil from ponds will increase the latter's water-storage capacity. Polyethylene contamination will also be prevented by these products becoming an alternative to polythene."