NGO

Gramin Vikas Hastkala is an NGO which continuously playing a vital role in the development of Indian handicrafts society. Gramin Vikas Hastakala (NGO)s extensive grassroots connection and involvement in various handicrafts manufacturing form various villages from all over the india.  This NGO , representing various classes of people and interests, plays a surrogate role by engaging in public policy making.

SPEECH OF HON’BLE MINISTER FOR TEXTILES ON THE OCCASION OF
INAUGURATION OF THE NATIONAL HANDICRAFTS & HANDLOOM FESTIVAL 2003
ON 15TH AUGUST, 2003 AT MUMBAI.

It gives me immense pleasure to be amongst you today to inaugurate the National Handicrafts and Handloom Festival 2003 on 15th August, 2003 at Mumbai organized by Gramin Hastkala Vikas Samiti, Agra. I would like to congratulate the office bearers of the Gramin Hastkala Vikas Samiti, Agra by whose strenuous efforts today, we are able to witness this large gathering of handlooms & handicrafts weavers and artisans with their rich and colourful artifacts/goods.

Handicrafts & Handlooms is a growing and vital sector of our economy both in terms of generating employment and earning foreign exchange for the country with negligible import content. This sector is decentralized and highly labour intensive. It is spread all over the country in rural and urban areas and substantially supports weaker sections of the society including women, SC/STs and minorities. Hence, Textile Ministry has assigned high priority to the development of handicrafts sector, targeting not only growth in employment but also a quantum jump in export earnings.

To provide marketing opportunities to artisans of the far-flung areas in the metro/large cities, the Govt. & NGOs are actively taking interest by organizing different types of marketing programmes. The craft persons are being provided stalls, infrastructure facilities and publicity etc. for these type of programmes. During the year 2002-03, 7796 artisans have been benefited through these events and sales to the extent of Rs.2557 lacs approximately have been generated.

For competitive Marketing of handicraft products, Corporations/NGOs & Coop. Societies engaged in the field of handicraft development are making all out efforts for the up-gradation of the handicraft/handloom sector. Dilli Haat/Urban Haats in important locations in the country have been established/sanctioned to provide a permanent marketing outlet for the art & craft products produced by the artisans directly. This opportunity is providing livelihood to a large number of artisans from all over the country who otherwise do not get adequate marketing outlets for sale of their products. Indian Handicrafts are famous all over the world for their workmanship, design, traditions & cultural heritage. Our Handicrafts are unique in their traditional colours and designs. Textile Ministry has already approved 24 Urban Haats in different parts of the country. These haats when become fully functional will help 36000 artisans/weavers annually. Out of these haats, 4 have become operational at places Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Bhubaneshwar (Orissa), Jammu (J&K) and Karnal (Haryana). These Food & Craft Bazaars will also provide leisure and recreational facilities to both domestic and international visitors.

This festival organized by Gramin Hastkala Vikas Samiti, Agra provides an immense opportunity to the artisans for sale of their products. Handicrafts & Handlooms being a state subject, the responsibility of promoting and developing this sector rests primarily with the States Government but Government of India under the Ministry of Textiles has been playing an important role and helping the States in this regard. The Ministry of Textiles through its schemes of Training of artisans, design development and technology up-gradation, exhibition, publicity, common facility centres and welfare has over the years intervened effectively for the benefit of artisans throughout the country. I would like to request the State Government of Maharastra to take maximum advantages from these schemes. I would also like to assure that the Government of India would be willing to support all efforts of the State Government in promoting & developing the Handicrafts & Handlooms of the State. Here I would like to make a special mention of our Baba Saheb Ambedkar Yojana which aims at sustainable development of artisans clusters. The scheme basically involves organising artisans into community based enterprises like self help groups or coop. Societies and their empowerment by making them active entrepreneurs cum primary stake holders in the process of development. The scheme facilitates effective participation of all members involved in production and marketing process for optimal growth in human resource, production, business and income. A new component that has been added to the list of interventions permissible under the scheme is that of margin money. It will help self help groups to access working capital through Banks. Effective linkages have also been established with the schemes of rural development sector like SGSY, so as to achieve synergistic results.

Let me assure you that my Ministry will extend all possible help to improve the socio economic conditions of the handicrafts artisans/handlooms weavers of the country.
With these words, I declare this Festival open and wish all the participants a great success.