Kadapa 'Raja-Rani Dolls' seek marketing help

Govt has submitted DPR to Union Ministry of MSME for development of a cluster for wooden dolls in Railway Koduru

- S NAGARAJA RAO @Kadapa

ARTISANS in Settigunta and Lakshmigaripalle, known for their intricate wooden Raja-Rani dolls, are seeking the State government support to preserve their century-old craft, much like the recognition given to Etikoppaka toys as a symbol of Andhra Pradesh's rich cultural heritage. The local artisans are urging the State government to help them market their dolls nationally.

For decades, around 100 families of Settigunta and Lakshmigaripalle villages in the Railway Koduru region of the erstwhile Kadapa district have been crafting Raja-Rani wooden dolls and other intricately designed wooden toys that enjoy demand not only in the Telugu States but also in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The Andhra Pradesh MSME Development Corporation recently identified the region as a Raja-Rani Dolls Cluster, a decision welcomed by the artisans.