The Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) under the Ministry of Textiles has formulated Human Resource Development (HRD) Scheme to upgrade the skill of the artisans and to provide qualified and trained workforce to the handicraft sector. Indian handicrafts products are made by hand whereas in China and other countries the craft products are largely mechanised. Indian artisans are skilled and well equipped to compete in the global market. This information was given by the Minister of State of Textiles Shri Ajay Tamta in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.  He said, 141 such programmes were implemented by National Center for Design and Product Development (NCDPD) benefiting more than 2800 artisans during 2017-18.

The Minister informed the House that Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) has also executed skill development programme for artisans sanctioned under Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development (CHCDS) Scheme of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) for Narsapur and Jodhpur mega clusters.

Shri Tamta further said that about 5000 artisans have been trained under Narsapur Mega Cluster in crafts of crochet and lace and 1360 artisans in the crafts of wood work, hand appliqué, hand embroidery, bone and horn, hand woven durry and hand block printing underJodhpur Mega Cluster till date. During 2017-18, 149 Technical Training Programmes were sanctioned benefiting 2980 artisans, 172 Soft Skill Training Programmes benefitting 3440 artisans. Apart from these training programmes, 510 artisans were imparted training through Guru Shisya Prampara Training Scheme and 400 artisans through Established Institution during 2017-18.

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MM/SB