Thanks to Mamata Banerjee’s policies, Manjusha earns profit for the first time in 37 years

For the first time since its inception, Manjusha, the State’s handicrafts development corporation, has made an operational profit, amounting to Rs 3.87 crore, during the fiscal year 2015-16. The corporation also witnessed its highest-ever business turnover during this fiscal, amounting to Rs 46.75 crore.

After the change of guard in the State, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had taken up a series of programmes to give a facelift to micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSME) in the State. Special emphasis was laid on Manjusha and Tantuja (the State’s handloom weavers’ co-operative). Steps were taken to ensure better management of the quality of products, creation of a wider product base, better management of the organisations and setting up of e-commerce facilities.

Manjusha was established in 1978. Over the past 37 years, this is the first time that the corporation has witnessed a profit, and it does not include any subsidy by the Government.

Tantuja has been churning out profits for the last three consecutive years. During 2015-16, it made a profit of Rs 3.3 crore, when the total business turnover stood at Rs 123 crore.

The introduction of the Biswa Bangla brand has set a mark and has helped immensely in the marketing of handicrafts and handloom products. It has resulted in a sharp increase in the demand for products made by artisans from different parts of the State.