Birbhum The Birbhum District of West Bengal occupies a very important part in the socio-cultural activities of our country along with the Visva Bharti University at Santiniketan being present in this area. From time immemorial, Birbhum has been famous for its Art and Crafts. The great Artist Shri Nandalal Basu was the pioneer introducing the batik effect on fabric and its uniqueness to Leather Crafts. This region is amongst the few, which have been able to harness the potential of Traditional Vegetable Tanned Leathers and utilize its unique characteristics of accepting pressure and mould ability to create a pleasing Aesthetic experience. In the year 1923, Shri Susen Mukhopadhyaya called upon the craftsmen of this region to come under the umbrella of a society which we know today as “Amar Kutir Society for Rural Development”. This society is today one of the oldest and largest in India which caters to a whole gamut of Traditional Handicrafts including Leather goods and Accessories, Kantha Stitch Embroidery, Hand Batik, Bell Metal, Silk reeling & Spinning, Terracotta, jute, bamboo and Shola Work amongst others. The main areas of handicraft in the Birbhum District are Bolpur, Nalhati, Ilambazar and Rajnagar. Crafts identified of Birbhum Kantha Stitch Batik Leather Tussar Silk Macrame RDEC and SRTSC Role The development of Market Linkages, Linkages with Financial Institutions and Net working with trade partners and stakeholder, Promotion of the Cluster capacity and Common Brands and establishing micro enterprises will be initiated at the Design Nodes or Rural Development Enterprise Centre(RDEC) at the cluster. This will be the nodal point to not only facilitate the implementation for various initiatives but also to pass on the skills and competences acquired as a result of various activities. Bolpur Santiniketan has been identified as RDEC. The activities of Capacity Building such as New Product Development, Skills and Technological up – gradation, Trainings etc. will be linked to the Shared Resources & Technology Support Centers(SRTSC) at the Sub-Cluster level. Chhoto Simulia(near Bolpur), Rajnagar, Ilambazar(extension centre) and Nalhati have been identified as SRTSCs. Centre Place Block Name Tentative date of Commencement Status RDEC Bolpur Bolpur Netaji Bazar Multiple Commodity Market Complex May 2006 *   SRTSC Chhoto Simulia Bolpur Tagore Society for Rural Development April 2006     Rajnagar Rajnagar Block Office April 2006         Tantipara Panchayat Building April 2006         Aligarh School Campus April 2006     Nalhati 1 Nalhati 1 Nalhati Panchayat Community Center April 2006