Development of skills, designs & infrastructure need attention: Mukherjee
Updated: Jul 01, 2014 02:59:16pm
New Delhi, Jul 1 (KNN) Handicrafts and handlooms remain vulnerable to competition from cheaper imports and machine made substitutes. These factors need to be addressed urgently, systematically and comprehensively and we must give more attention to development of capacity, skills, designs and infrastructure, President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has said.
The President today presented national awards, Shilp Guru Awards and Sant Kabir awards to weavers and artisans for 2011 at an event here, according to an official release.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that indigenous handicrafts and handlooms are a cherished aspect of the Indian way of life. Their extensive range reflects our nation’s diversity and infinite creativity.
“This sector has contributed substantially to the empowerment of women, the youth and the disabled. A considerable percentage of weavers and artisans belong to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes and religious minorities. He said that handicrafts and handlooms sector not only provides low investment income opportunities for families in the rural sector but it also supplements their incomes in off-season of Agriculture. Vitality in this sector checks migration and helps to keep traditional economic relationships intact,” Mukherjee said.
The President however pointed out that that despite its wide production base, the sector has been constrained in its growth.
“It has been disadvantaged by its inadequate access to credit, dependence on middlemen, inadequate availability of raw material, out-dated technology and limited access to markets,” he said.
Towards safeguarding handicrafts and handlooms in the long term, the President called for facilitation of easier access of these sectors to credit from banks and other financial institutions and the promotion of the products of these sectors in domestic and foreign markets.
“I firmly believe that universities, corporate sector and Government departments can contribute by sponsoring - and themselves taking up - research that results in innovative technology to adapt and upgrade the traditional tools and designs of the local artisans, and weavers,” he said.
He said there were many factors in our favour. “The abundant availability of unusual raw materials in India - such as bamboo, horn, jute, a pool of skilled artisans and indigenous knowledge has kept our production costs low.”
The government, he said, is working on more enabling policies in the 12th Five Year Plan.
“Many who had left the handloom and handicrafts sector have begun to revert. This is a good indication that Governmental interventions so far have been effective. It is, however, necessary for all concerned Ministries and Departments to stay vigilant and respond promptly to demand in existing and emerging markets,” he added. (KNN/ES)
The President today presented national awards, Shilp Guru Awards and Sant Kabir awards to weavers and artisans for 2011 at an event here, according to an official release.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that indigenous handicrafts and handlooms are a cherished aspect of the Indian way of life. Their extensive range reflects our nation’s diversity and infinite creativity.
“This sector has contributed substantially to the empowerment of women, the youth and the disabled. A considerable percentage of weavers and artisans belong to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes and religious minorities. He said that handicrafts and handlooms sector not only provides low investment income opportunities for families in the rural sector but it also supplements their incomes in off-season of Agriculture. Vitality in this sector checks migration and helps to keep traditional economic relationships intact,” Mukherjee said.
The President however pointed out that that despite its wide production base, the sector has been constrained in its growth.
“It has been disadvantaged by its inadequate access to credit, dependence on middlemen, inadequate availability of raw material, out-dated technology and limited access to markets,” he said.
Towards safeguarding handicrafts and handlooms in the long term, the President called for facilitation of easier access of these sectors to credit from banks and other financial institutions and the promotion of the products of these sectors in domestic and foreign markets.
“I firmly believe that universities, corporate sector and Government departments can contribute by sponsoring - and themselves taking up - research that results in innovative technology to adapt and upgrade the traditional tools and designs of the local artisans, and weavers,” he said.
He said there were many factors in our favour. “The abundant availability of unusual raw materials in India - such as bamboo, horn, jute, a pool of skilled artisans and indigenous knowledge has kept our production costs low.”
The government, he said, is working on more enabling policies in the 12th Five Year Plan.
“Many who had left the handloom and handicrafts sector have begun to revert. This is a good indication that Governmental interventions so far have been effective. It is, however, necessary for all concerned Ministries and Departments to stay vigilant and respond promptly to demand in existing and emerging markets,” he added. (KNN/ES)
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