New Delhi, Nov 21 (KNN) Academicians for safeguarding handicrafts urged government authorities to invest in handloom for its growth, during a conference on ‘Rethinking Indian Industrialization of Crafts’, at Chirala in Andhra Pradesh.

Professor of Maastricht University, Netherlands, Wiebe Bijker said, “Do not let your handicrafts industry die the way it has happened in China. This is my biggest learning from the global meet.”

He mentioned, “India has a vibrant handicrafts industry and it could learn a lot from China.”

“The handicrafts sector needs new policy aimed at encouraging innovation. Indian handlooms and handicraft industries need to develop new legal frameworks to safeguard its industry”, he said.

Former Executive Director, National Institute of Design and Crafts Council of India, Prof Ashok Chatterjee said that despite being the second largest source of employment in the country after agriculture, handicraft still hasn’t got its due recognition.

The global meet also presented a chance for weavers from Kutch, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim to share their weaving techniques.

During the seven-day conference, 300 weavers, spinners, academicians, activists from Europe, USA, China, Taiwan and Laos took part.