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The Handicrafts sector enjoys aspecial significance in thecountry’s economy in terms of

employment generation as well as earningof foreign exchange through exports.Estimates based on the populationcensus, survey (NSSO), NCAER surveyand other studies and information availablefor the unorganized cottage industry sectorreveal that the annual growth rate ofemployment (both direct and indirect ) inthe handicrafts sector could be around2.5%. Based on this, it is presumed thatduring the 9th Five Year Plan, employmentin the handicrafts sector increased from52.92 lakhs in the year 1997-98 to 56.99lakhs in 2000-2001 and is estimated toreach 58.41 lakhs by the end of 9th Plan i.e.2001-2002. Out of the total work force inthis sector, women constitute 46.8%, SC/ST (37.11%) and minority (23.89%)Handicrafts being a state subject, itsdevelopment and promotion is the primaryresponsibility of the State Governments.However, the Office of the DevelopmentCommissioner (Handicrafts) has beensupplementing their efforts byimplementing various developmentalschemes at the central level for thehandicrafts sector.

This office was implementing 34 schemesduring the 9th Plan and based on the zerobased budgeting principle, this number hasbeen brought down to 8 generic schemesin the 10th Plan. Out of 8 new generic

schemes to be implemented in the10thPlan, 7 schemes namely Baba SahebAmbedkar Hastashilp Vikas Yojana, Designand Technical Upgradation. ExportPromotion, Marketing Support and Services,Research & Development, Training &Extension, Financial Assistance to StateHandicrafts Development Corporation/StateApex Societies have been approved forimplementation so far. The other schemetitled “ Infrastructure Projects – Societies ofCentral Government working under theoverall control of office of DevelopmentCommissioner(Handicrafts)” is underconsideration/submission for in principle

CHAPTER IX

HANDICRAFTS

Craftsman at Work

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approval from Planning Commission. Thebrief of the 7 schemes is as under:

BABA SAHEB AMBEDKAR HASTSHILPVIKAS YOJANA. (AHVY)

This scheme aims at promoting Indianhandicrafts by developing artisans clustersinto professionally managed and self-reliantcommunity enterprises on the principles ofeffective member participation and mutualcooperation. The thrust of the scheme ison a projectised need based integratedapproach for sustainable handicraftsdevelopment through participation ofcraftspersons leading to theirempowerment.

The package of support under AHVY can beclubbed under the following components.

l Social interventions

Diagnostic survey and formulation ofproject plan

Mobilization of artisans

l Technological interventions

Assistance for training the trainers

Assistance for design and technologicalupgradation

Financial assistance for developmentand supply/ dissemination of modernimproved tools, equipments etc.,

Documentation, preservation andrevival of languishing crafts etc.

l Marketing interventions

- Marketing events

- Marketing infrastructure

- Publicity

- Marketing Services

l Welfare interventions

Workshed

l Financial interventions

Margin money

Eligibility :-

Financial assistance under this scheme canbe given to/ through the Reputed NGOs/Cooperatives/ Apex cooperative societies/Trusts/COHANDS/ EPCH/ CEPC/ MHSC/IICT/ NCDPD/ NIFT/ NID/ University Deptt.,DRDA/ NISSIET, EDIs, Central/ StateHandloom and Handicrafts DevelopmentCorporations and other related Govt.Corporations/ agencies, Federation ofNGOs/ SHGs Consortium etc. registeredunder proper statute, for sustainabledevelopment of identified craft clusters.

During 2001-2002, 222 proposals havebeen sanctioned under AHVY forconducting base line survey andmobilization involving expenditure to theextent of Rs.355.62 lakh. During 2002-2003,an amount of Rs. 880.00 lakh has beenallocated including NER and Sikkim forundertaking various interventions. Totalexpenditure incurred upto December 2002is Rs.597.60 lakh.

MARKETING SUPPORT & SERVICES

The main objective of this scheme is tocreate awareness of Indian handicraftsamong the masses by organizing a numberof marketing events in big and small cities,to provide financial assistance to StateHandicrafts Corporations, ApexCooperatives and prominent NGOs foropening new Emporia at suitable places toenable the craftpersons to have permanentsales outlets for their products, to popularizeand publicize handicrafts sector, to provideservices in the form of entrepreneurship

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development programme etc.

ELIGIBILITY ; GRANT-IN-AID

The financial assistance under the schemeshall be extended to the Central/StateHandicrafts Corporations, COHANDS, ApexSocieties, NGO’s registered under SocietyAct, Trusts and such other organisaztionengaged in the development and promotionof handicrafts sector registered under anyother statutory Acts.

During 2001-2002, a sum of Rs. 412.55lakh has been released under the scheme.During 2002-2003, an amount of Rs. 1335lakh has been allocated including NER andSikkim for undertaking various marketingevents. Total expenditure incurred uptoDecember 2002 is Rs.895 lakh .

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY UPGRADATION

Design & Technology upgradation schemeaims at upgradation of artisans skillsimprovement and diversification of products,

The schemes comprises of five main components as under:

COMPONENTS SUB-COMPONENTS

Marketing Events: a)Holding of National Handicrafts Expos.

b)Holding of Crafts Bazars

c)Holding of Exhibitions

Marketing Infrastructure: a) Setting up of Urban Haat/Crafts specificHaat/Local Haats.

b) Opening of new emporia/ renovation/expansion of existingemporia.

c) Setting up of Craft Development Centres.

Marketing Services: a) Holding of Marketing Workshops at

National/State/Local Levels programme.

b) Entrepreneurship Development.

Publicity Internal Publicity

development of new design and prototypes.supply of improved/modern equipments tothe craftpersons, revival of rare crafts topreserve the traditional heritage,preservation of traditional art & crafts of highaesthetic value, etc.

The scheme has been sub divided under sixdistinct components as under:

Components

l Financial Assistance to institutions fordesign and technology development inhandicrafts sector

l Skill upgradation

a) Departmental activities

i) Regional Design & TechnicalDevelopment Centres.

ii) Activities of Regional Design &Technical Development Centres.

iii) Departmental Training Centres inCarpet in J&K and Cane & Bamboo in

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the Country.

b) Grant-in-aid

i) Assistance to Shilp Gurus (HeritageMasters)

ii) Assistance for training under GuruShishya Parampara

iii) Assistance for training the trainers (Atype of certificate or diploma course fortrainers/master craftpersons who canwork in close cooperation with clusters)

l Financial assistance for developmentsupply/ dissemination of modernimproved tools, equipments, productsand process technologies.

l Assistance for design & technologyupgradation

i) Integrated Design & TechnologyDevelopment Project

ii) Design & Technology DevelopmentWorkshop

l Documentation, Preservation andRevival of old and rare and languishingcrafts.

l National Award for outstandingcontribution in Designs in handicraftssector.

Eligibility

Financial assistance under the Design andTechnology Upgradation Scheme isextended to the Central/State HandicraftsCorporation, Apex Cooperative Societies,NGOs registered under Societies Act, Trust,Handicrafts Societies, EPCH, CEPC,COHANDS, NCDPD, MHSC, IICT, CraftsCouncil of various States, NID, NIIFT, IIT andother reputed institute dealing in handicrafts,

renowned designers, technologist, NationalAwardees, Mastercraftpersons, expertshaving experience in handicrafts.

During 2001-2002, a sum of Rs. 108.17lakh has been incurred for undertakingvarious design development activities.During 2002-2003, an amount of Rs.2600 lakh has been allocated including NERand Sikkim under these schemes. Totalexpenditure incurred upto December 2002is Rs.1465 lakh.

EXPORT PROMOTION

The objective of the scheme is to promoteexport of handicrafts including hand knottedcarpets and floor covering from India.Initiatives such as identification ofhandicrafts concentration area fordevelopment of exportable products,undertaking research and studies in orderto identify markets abroad, taste andfashion, prevailing designs etc., participationin exhibitions etc. and addressing the issuesemerging out of the liberalized and postWTO era would be undertaken under thisscheme.

The details of components coveredunder the scheme are as under:

l Product Development

a) Workshop and Training Programme inPackaging in Export Procedures/Management

b) Training of Artisans /Mastercraftspersons/Designers

c) Workshop/Seminar in India and Abroad

d) Selection of Designers, Artists fordevelopment of prototypes for exportsand invitation to foreign Designers.

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l Publicity and Marketing

l Social and other welfare measures

Eligibility

The financial assistance under the schemeis extended to the central/state HandicraftsCorporations, Council of HandicraftsDevelopment Corporation (Cohands),Apex Coop. Societies, NGOs registeredunder Society’s Act, Trusts, and such otheroragnisations engaged in the developmentand promotion of handicrafts sectorregistered under any other Statutory Acts,EPCH, CEPC, NCDPD, IICT, IndiaExposition Mart, Registered Handicraftsexporters, reputed designers/technologistsapproved by CEPC/EPCH/Office of theDC(H).

During 2001-2002, an amount of Rs. 250.48lakh has been incurred under ExportPromotion Activities. During 2002-2003, anamount of Rs.750 has been allocatedincluding NER and Sikkim under ExportPromotion, Total expenditure incurred uptoDecember 2002 is Rs.310 lakh.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

The main objective of the scheme to havea regular system of feedback of economic,social, aesthetic and promotional aspects ofvarious crafts and artisans in this sectorand to address the issues arising out ofWTO stipulation case.

Scope of the Scheme

l Surveys/Studies of specific rafts forwhich adequate information is notavailable.

l Problems relating to availability of rawmaterial, technology, design, common

facilities, etc.

l Living and working conditions ofartisans in specific areas or crafts.

l Market evaluation studies of specificcrafts for either domestic or overseasmarkets.

l Techno-economic feasibility studies andpost evaluation of the variouspromotional projects or programmesundertaken in the handicrafts sector.

l Areas requiring special study for upliftof the weaker sections viz. ScheduledCastes and Scheduled Tribes.

l Financial assistance for preparation oflegal, para legal, standards, audits andother documentation leading to labeling/certification.

l Financial assistance to organizationsfor evolving, developing a mechanismfor protecting crafts, design, heritage,historical knowledge base, researchand implementation of the sameenabling the sector/segment to facechallenges for utilizing the opportunitiesof post WTO regime.

l Financial assistance for taking upproblems/issues relating to brandbuilding and promotion of IndianHandicrafts.

l Any other problems/issues of specificnature relating to handicrafts sector.

Eligibility:

Assistance under the scheme will beextendable to an organization registeredunder any of the statutory Acts (CompaniesAct 1956, Societies Registration Act 1860,

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Cooperative Act etc.) or registered with anybodies like DCSSI, Office of theDevelopment Commissioner (Handicrafts),etc. or universities and recognized researchinstitutions. Generally, such assistancewould not be extendable to any particularindividual unless he is an eminent scholaror a person associated with promotion ofhandicrafts for a long time.

During 2001-2002, an amount of Rs. 50.30lakh has been incurred under Survey &Study. During 2002-2003, an amount of Rs250.00 lakh has been allocated includingNER and Sikkim for undertaking variousinterventions. Total expenditure incurredupto December 2002 is Rs 30 lakh

TRAINING & EXTENSION

The main objective of this scheme is toenhance the capacity building of theartisans, NGO etc. and to meet theadministrative expenditure closeddepartmental training centres under variouscrafts.

Component of the Scheme.

l Departmental

Incurring expenditure to cover establishmentcost including Pay & Allowances of thestaff of closed departmental trainingcentres in various crafts.

l Grant-in -aid

a) Incurring expenditure for conductingfield visits/study tours in India andabroad to give exposure to designersand master craftsperons working inhandicrafts sector with a view to enablethem to learn and adopt best practicesprevailing for promotion anddevelopment of handicrafts sector inIndia.

b) Financial Assistance for capacitybuilding and to conduct awareness-cum-training workshops/seminars forartisans, NGOs etc. in various spheresrelated to handicraft sector.

Eligible Organizations

The scheme shall be implementeddepartmentally as well as through reputedresearch institutions, registeredorganizations/public sector units, expertsetc. specializing in concerned areas.

During 2001-2002, an amount of Rs.192.81lakh has been incurred. During 2002-2003,an amount of Rs1702 lakh has beenallocated including NER and Sikkim forundertaking various interventions. Totalexpenditure incurred upto December 2002is Rs.1530 lakh.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATEHANDICRAFTS DEVELOPMENTCORPORATIONS/STATE APEXSOCIETIES

The scheme envisages to help the StateHandicrafts Corporations/Apex CooperativeSocieties by providing them grants so thatthe corporations can utilize the money forany developmental, promotional and welfareactivities of urgent nature concerning thecraft persons of their State.

Component

To enable the Corporations/Apex Societiesto increase their capital base in order toenable them to take programmes which willdirectly benefit the craftspersons.

Eligibility

State Handicrafts DevelopmentCorporations /Handicrafts Apex Cooperative

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Societies. During 2001-2002, a sum ofRs.240.00 lakhs has been incurred . During2002-2003, an amount of Rs140.00 lakhshas been allocated.

EXPORT OF HANDICRAFTS

Export of handicrafts including Hand knottedcarpets were recorded at Rs.9205.63 croreduring 2001-2002 showing a slightdecrease of 0.80% in export compared tothe corresponding period of 2000-2001. The

export target for the year 2002-2003 hasbeen fixed at Rs.10,470.00 crore. The mainitems which exhibited increase in exportsduring 2001-2002 are Zari and Zari Goods(11.70%), art metal ware (18.76%) Woodwares (24.50 %) and embroidered andcrocheted goods ( 24.01 %). The export ofhandicrafts in the current financial year tillDecember 2002 has been Rs. 7511.42crore. Item-wise exports of Handicraftssince 1997-98 is given in table below:

Exports of Handicrafts from 1997-98 to 2002-03 (April-December 2002)

(Rs. in crores)

Item 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03(April-Dec.

2002)

A. Carpet & otherfloor covering

1. Woolen 1495.35 1783.32 1888.45 2045.96 2152.69 1649.48

2. Silk 109.62 136.46 153.93 167.03 198.27 115.25

3. Synthetic 56.64 94.16 93.65 102.16 85.17 32.85

Total (A) 1661.58 2013.94 2136.03 2315.15 2436.13 1797.58

B. Other Handicrafts

1. Art Metal ware 1291.88 1329.16 1497.18 1778.10 1758.90 1622.47

2. Wood Ware 279.35 286.04 394.95 434.44 431.88 257.23

3. M.P Textiles Scarves 489.82 1033.98 1158.05 1276.75 1221.59 1093.524. Embroidered and Crochet goods 1307.15 1209.42 1584.36 1964.78 1931.97 1714.235. Shawls and Artwares 20.10 48.48 21.50 27.20 27.01 23.18

6. Zari and Zari goods 71.88 74.95 83.52 142.32 134.04 101.46

7. Imitation Jewelry 68.12 104.10 113.64 121.68 117.53 83.10

8. Misc. Handicrafts 646.09 1057.57 1116.40 1210.08 1146.58 818.65

Total (B) 4174.39 5143.70 5969.60 6955.35 6769.50 5713.84

Grand Total (A+B) 5835 7157.64 8105.63 9270.50 9205.63 7511.42

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EXPORT PROMOTION MEASURETAKEN BY EPCH /CEPC DURING 2002-03 (Till December 2002)

Export Promotion Council forHandicrafts

v Organized 1st Indian Furniture ,Floorings & Accessories Show forHandicrafts at Pragat Maidan, NewDelhi during 8-11 April, 2002.

v Participated in Hong Kong House wareweek, Hong Kong during 16-19 April, 02.

v Participated in Hong Kong Gift &Premium week, Hong Kong during 23-26 April, 02.

v Participated in Osaka InternationalTrade Fair, Japan during 2-6 May, 02.

v Participated in International Spring Fair,Dubai, UAE during 5-10 May, 02.

v Participated in Gift fair International,Melbourne, Australia during 7-9 May, 02.

v Participated in International House wareShow, Japan during 19-21 June, 02.

v Participated in International AutumnFair, Birmingham (U.K.) during 1-4September, 02.

v Participated in MACEF-Autumn-02,Milan (Italy) during 6-9 September, 02.

v Participated in Ambient Arabia, 2002,Dubai, UAE during 23-26 September,02.

v Organized Indian Handicrafts & Gift Fair(Autumn )-02 at Pragati Maidan, NewDelhi during 13-16 October, 02.

v Participated in FAME, Manila,Philippines during 21-24 October, 02.

v Participated in 10th Asian Gift &Premium Products Show, Hong Kongduring 18-21 October, 02.

v Participated in China, InternationalHandicrafts Exposition, China during 22-26 October, 02

Activities undertaken by EPCH

l Indian Handicraft & Gifts Fair-Autumn2002 from 13-16 October, 2002 alongwith 920 participated displayed of allHandicrafts Products. Approx. 3000buyers have been registered during thefair. Handicrafts exporters have beenbooked order of handicrafts products isapprox. Rs.850 crore.

l Asian Gifts Premium & HouseholdProduct Show-Hongkong from 18-21October, 2002. The Council hasarranged participation of 21 Indianexporters in the show and displayed allHandicrafts Products.

l Fame Manila-Manila (Philippines) from21-24 October, 2002. The Council’sparticipation as a promotional booth offorthcoming Indian Handicrafts & GiftsFair-Spring 2003.

l China International HandicraftsExposition –China from 22-25 October,2002. The Council has arrangedparticipation of 4 Indian exporters in theshow and displayed handicraftsproducts.

l EPCH organised the First Folk CraftFestival of India at Caracas(Venezuela)from 24th October-3rd November 2002along with 16 participants and displayedtheir products. The festival receivedoverwhelming response.

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l Workshop on UL certification & ISO9000 & 14000 was held at EPCHHouse on 14th December, 2002. Theworkshop was attended by 26 member-exporters.

l Workshop on Newer Export PromotionMeasures held on 24th December, 2002at Jodhpur.

CARPET EXPORT PROMOTIONCOUNCIL

v Organized a seminar on ExportPromotion from J&K at Srinagar on27.6.2002.

v Displayed improvised tools &equipments developed by IIT, New Delhiunder UNDP carpet project in Srinagar.

v Organized a seminar on Status ofWoollen Carpet Industry and its futureat Jaipur on 17.8.2002 which wasinaugurated Hon’ble Minster of Textiles.

v A four-member market study team weredeputed to South Africa to study themarket in July, 2002.

Activities undertaken by CEPC

l India Carpet Fair from 13-16 October,2002 at New Delhi. 60 participantsdisplayed their merchandise. 350overseas buyers visited apart frombuying agents. Business likely togenerate around Rs. 100 crore.

l A Buyer Seller Meet in France from 23to 24 October, 2002. 8 participantsdisplayed their merchandise.

l A Buyer Seller Meet in London (UK)from 27-28 October, 2002. 13participants displayed theirmerchandise.

l A workshop in collaboration with EPCH,India Merchandise Mart and EUPEAwas organized at Varansi on 28th

December, 2002

l A workshop in collaboration with EPCH,India Merchandise Mart, AICMA andAICTFC was organized at Bhadohi on29th December, 2002.

l CEPC participated in First Folk CraftFestival of India at Caracas (Venezuela)from 24th October-3rd November, 2002.13 carpets developed under UNDPcarpet project were displayed. Apartfrom this, demonstration of carpetweaving was also arranged.

UNDP PROJECTS

a. Carpet project

The project aims to promote employment anincome generation in hand-knotted carpetindustry with special focus on value addition,design development and improvement intechnology and post weaving processesincluding use of vegetable dyes in carpetmanufacturing to augment the exports. Thetotal outlay of the project is Rs. 990.86 lakhin which the GOI contribution is Rs. 485.00lakh. The project commenced in December1999 and would conclude in March 2003.

The progress achieved in the project beingimplemented through different agencies isas under:-

l IIT-Delhi has developed improvedlooms, hand tools, moisture measuringdevice, washing, squeezing and dryingchambers for use in the carpet industry.These tools and equipments weredisplayed in demonstration cumawareness training programme at

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Bhadohi, Jaipure, Mirzapur, Gopiganjand Srinagar during 2001 and 2002.Suggestions and feed back receivedduring this programmes from weavers,manufacturers and exporters wereincorporated and modifications werecarried out.

The Looms and tools have since beenvalidated and are under production fordistribution to the weavers throughCarpet Export Promotion Council.

The remaining equipments were put forfinal validation at Bhadohi etc. but, theystill need some improvements as perfeed back received from the industriesand IIT has accordingly been advised tocarry out further improvement to makethe acceptable to the actual users in anindustry. It is expected that final versionwill come during November 02.

l Wool Research Association, Mumbaiwas working on standardization ofextraction procedure of dyes from locallyavailable natural colour yielding rawmaterials.

WRA so far, conducted threeworkshops on use of natural dyes, oneat Jaipur, two at Bhadohi and 206persons were trained.

Developed 100 fast shades for carpetwith natural dyes.

l The work of design development wascarried out through NIFT, Delhi in twophases. During 2000-01 under phase-I, 167 designs were developed forEuropean/US Market, similarly during2001-02, under Phase-II, 200 carpetdesigns have been developed for US

Market and displayed in Atlanta/Muba-Basel Fair during January-02.

Under Phase-III, 17 Designers havebeen engaged, who are developing 170ethnic new designs for carpet which willbe displayed in Atlanta Fair, January-03and Carpet Fair, Feb-03.

l IICT has completed procurement andcommissioning of CAT system (4 workstations with software) and colourmatching equipment. The staff havebeen given training on two occasionsand final training is to commence soon.IICT is expected to start short termtraining course for designers inComputer-aided-Designing andorganize training of artisans in carpetweaving by November-02.

l Carpet Export Promotion Councilparticipates in various marketing underthe project. The following events wereorganized so far:-

1. Participated in Atlanta Rug Show, 19-22July, 02.

2. Participated in Domotex Fair in January-02 and Atlanta Rug Show in US in Jan-02.

3. The Development of new design forAtlanta Rug-Show in US in Jan-03.

l A seminar cum interactive workshop onachievements made under the projectincluding development of design,products and technology was organizedat NIFT, New Delhi, 2002 16-17th

December, 2002.

b. CANE & BAMBOO

§ Kerala Forest Research Institute has

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completed the survey for identificationof cane & bamboo species suitable forhandicrafts sector and has set up GenePool Bank and Tissue Culture Lab forproviding planting stock to the farmersas well as training them in betterfarming techniques. For popularizingthe cultivation of Bamboo & Cane KFRIKerala has organized 22 trainingprogrammes on cultivationmanagement and uses of Bamboo &Cane, established ten bamboo andthree cane nurseries with the help ofprogressive NGOs and farmers anddistributed nearly 1,00,000 seedlingsplanting stock and trained more than832 farmers, NGOs and other usersgroup.

§ Survey also completed by RFRI Jorhatin 13 districts of Assam and 5 districtsof Manipur. 11 bamboos and 7 canespecies collected during the survey hasbeen planted in the bambustum andCanctum located at RFRI Jorhat. So far8000 bamboo seedlings and 5000 caneseedlings have been raised at Jorhat andImphal Nursery out of which 4500bamboos and 2000 canes have beendistributed to farmers and entrepreneursduring the training programmes. So far7 Kisan nurseries have been started.674 farmers /entrepreneurs /NGOs oncane & bamboo nursery raising andplantation management technique havebeen trained in 15 training programmes.Two demonstration plots are being

Hon’ble Minister at Atlanta Rug Show in U.S.

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established at Jorhat and Dimapurdistricts.

§ Two cane demonstration plots havebeen established at Chessa and atSogalee by SFRI.

§ SFRI has conducted 4 trainingprogrammes at Itanagar Naharlagun,Banderdeva and Roing on Bamboo andcane propagation and farming.

§ IIT, Mumbai has developed a set ofvarious hand operated improved tools,splitting machines, finishing and dyeingtechniques etc, which has beendemonstrated to the users group in aworkshop at Guwahati. Theseequipment and tools has been validatedby the artisans. 50 sets of improvedtool kits have been fabricated &distributed for training and use of theartisans community. The trainedinstructors are imparting training to theartisans in the identified clusters andmore than 600 artisans have beentrained, repeated training has also beencommenced from May 02. 400 sets oftool kits have been fabricated and arebeing distributed among artisans on thesubsidized rates.

§ Mobilization of Self Help Groups andThrift & Credit activity in all 21 clustersbegun. Necessary inputs/fordevelopment of the clusters are beingprovided in phased manner.

§ 11 designers under the project (10 inNorth East & 1 in Kerala) haveproduced about 197 new designsprototypes in Ist phase, which wasdisplayed in IHGF held at PragatiMaidan during 15-18 Oct., 2001. It has

attracted most of the buyers andgenerated a large number of businessinquiry. These are being made totranslate them into the foreign exportorder.. These designs have alsodisplayed at Dilli Haat from 19-12-01 to21-12-01 for getting feed back of buyerand designers etc. About 222 newdesign prototypes have also beendeveloped by these designers in the 2nd

Phase of design development activity

§ 8 Common Facility Centers one in eachstate (7 in Northeast and one in Kerala)equipped with electrically/mechanicallyoperated machines to provide facility forprocessing of raw material to theartisans/manufactures has beensanctioned and out of 8 CFCs 4 arebeing started functionally at Barpeta(Assam) Dimapur (Nagaland) Ziro(Arunachal Pradesh) and Gurchuk(Assam). This will not only removedrudgery but will save a lot of time of theartisans, which is otherwise wasted innon-craft activity like manual processingof raw material etc. This will result inimproving productivity and quality.Some Indian fabricators have beenidentified who have developedelectrically operated machines. Thesemachines have been validated by IITGuwahati.

§ In addition to above, 21 Micro CommonFacility Centers are being set up 1 ineach cluster where 2 sets of workingtools and hand operated processingmachines is being provided. These willbe used as a CFC by the artisans andhelp them in augmenting their

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production. Out of 21, 3 MCFC hasalready been set up by IIT-Mumbai atDiezhephe (Nagaland), Nalchar(Tripura) and Barpeta (Assam), IITMumbai conducted followingworkshops: -

§ A design and training workshop hasbeen held at Diezhephe from 17th to23rd June, 2002.

§ A 2 day workshop on tools on 18&19Sept. 2002 at BCDI, Agartala

§ 3 Day workshop on Tool & Design atNalchar, Tripura on 20.9.2002 to22.9.2002.

The remaining would be functioned byNovember 02.

§ Participated in Birmingham Fair (UK)during 3rd to 7th February and MubaBazzel Fair at Switzerland during 22ndFebruary to 3rd March 2002 wheredisplayed the new designs developedby these designers and basketry itemsfrom NEHHDC and other furniture itemsdeveloped by other designers.

§ Participated in Birmingham AutumnFare 02 & EPCH Autumn FareOctober 02.

§ A seminar cum interactive workshop onachievements made under the projectincluding development of design,products and technology was arrangedat India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 6-7th November, 2002.

PUBLIC REDRESSAL GRIEVANCESCELL

Public Redressal Grievance Cell has beenformed in Head Quarters Office of the

Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).Addl. Development Commissioner is theDirector of the Grievance Cell and oneofficer of the level of Dy. Director has beenassigned the task of hearing the public andstaff grievances. The action taken on thecomplaints received is reviewed from timeto time.

SOCIETIES UNDER ADMINISTRATIVECONTROL OF DC (HANDICRAFTS)

Indian Institute of Carpet Technology,Bhadohi (IICT)

l Conducts Industry driven short termcourses in all relevant areas for thecarpet industry.

l Conducts B.Tech course in Carpet andTextile Technology, which is recognizedboth by AICTE, New Delhi and UPTechnical University, Lucknow.

l Provides testing facilities in yarncomposition, fibre blends, colourmatching and dying, carpet testing etc.

l Conducts R & D in relevant areas inconsultation with industry and alsounder takes specific consultancyassignments.

l Provides carpet designs to the industry.

l Conducts training in CAD, weaving,finishing, dying etc.

l Satellite centres of IICT at Srinagar andJaipur are proposed.

Metal Handicrafts Service Centre(MHSC), Moradabad

l Provide Common Facility Services tothe art metalware industry ofMoradabad in post production finishes.

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l Provides training in finishingtechnologies.

l Provides testing facilities for metal andfinishes.

l Consultant for restructuring appointed tomake MHSC commercially andeconomically viable, self-sustainableand to fulfill the requirement of metalindustry as per global market demand.

National Centre for Design & ProductDevelopment (NCDPD)

l Located at Okhla, New Delhi withbranch office at Moradabad

l Registered as society under SocietiesAct, 1860 with DC (HC) as itsChairperson and a member from tradeas Co-Chairperson.

l The objective of the centre is to meetdesign and technology related needs ofhard goods sector.

Bamboo & Cane Development Institute,Agartala

l Being restructured to meet theentire need and requirement ofbamboo industry in global context inthe areas of HRD, technologyupgradation, R&D and commonfacility services.

l N:ID is coordinating the entirerestructuring plan including trainingprogramme.

l SFC proposal under submission/consideration.

l The syllabus for training programme forskill upgradation of artisansrestructured completely and mademore broad based and trainingprogramme commenced.

Proposed to be registered as autonomoussociety under Societies Act, 1860.