Guwahati, July 13 -- The Assam government on Monday said it will revive the defunct Raw Material Bank at Hajo to support the state's traditional bell metal industry, which has been grappling with rising raw material costs, increasing production expenses and a shortage of skilled artisans.

Replying to a starred question by MLA Prakash Chandra Das during the Assam Legislative Assembly session, Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises Minister Bimal Bora said the government is reviewing measures to revive the centuries-old craft and address the challenges affecting the sector.

Bora told the House that the Industries Department had established a Common Facility Centre (CFC) at Hajo and constituted a Cluster Management Committee to suppor...