CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CDP)

B) In many ways cluster development has been practised since the earliest communities – from the medieval village. The first conscious application of a Cluster development was in Radburn, New Jersey in 1928. Currently cluster development is applied all over the India. From recent past there is particularly a strong push for it in West Bengal. Our State is gifted with a rich range of beautiful handicrafts. Almost every district of the state has its unique handicrafts. These Products are a part and parcel of the culture of the concerned communities. Passed on from generation to generation, these village industries have the potential of sustaining the artisans economically. Contribution of this sector to the national economy is immense. The Economical benefits of cluster development is that it requires less investments in infrastructure for growing up. Cluster initiatives are considered to be efficient policy instruments in that they allow a concentration of resources and funding in targeted areas with a high growth and development potential that can spread beyond the target locations.

What is Cluster

Geographical concentrations of inter-connected (Village Industries) enterprises and associated instructions that face common challenges and opportunities.

The definition highlights two essential features of Cluster:

      1. They consist of a critical mass of enterprises located in geographical proximity to each other. 

      2.The enterprises within them share many common features.

What is Cluster Development

It is a key strategy for enhancing the Productivity and competitiveness as well as capacity building of inter-connected enterprises within a specific cluster.

Objectives of WBKVIB with a special reference to CDP

• To organize the traditional Industries and artisan into cluster.
• To provide sustained employment for traditional village industries artisan.
• To render skills and capabilities through training and exposure visit.
• To make provision for common facilities and improved tools.
• To promote the active participations of the stake holders.
• To enhance marketability of products of such cluster.