Govt not doing enough to help handicraft exporters: EPCH

New Delhi, June 6 (KNN) The artisans working in the world famous traditional sectors of India are urging the Government to provide basic facilities like Infrastructure, technological support, sops etc to market products abroad. The handicraft exporters’ apex body said that the survival of labour intensive sector, which employs around 70 lakh artisans, is difficult due to competition.

Talking to KNN, Rajesh Kumar Jain, Vice Chairman, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) said the support is less from the Government to the Handicraft Industry.

“In the fiscal policy of 2009-14 we used to get incentive of five per cent from the Government under the scheme. It has deducted now to 2-3 per cent. It may be possible that Government is simplifying it and fulfilling the WTO norms. Modi Government has given special schemes for the Farmers. After the farmers, there are 70 lakh artisans are there,” he said.

Jain said that India on one hand is known throughout the world for Agra’s marble, Saharanpur’s Karni, hand paintings of Jodhpur etc.

“But, no facilities are available for the artisans who are working here. Infrastructure problem is here but now many things are being done by the Government. One more issue is that the exporters have to go outside to sell the products. The exporters also want grants in MDA as sales and profits are going down. Survival is difficult due to competition. Export needs to be boosted,” he pointed.

The country's annual handicraft exports were between USD 3 to 4 billion earlier which has now come down.

He said earlier the country's annual handicraft exports were ranges between USD 3 billion to USD 4 billion but now it has come down He said earlier the country's annual handicraft exports were ranges between USD 3 billion to USD 4 billion but now it has come down He said earlier the country's annual handicraft exports were ranges between USD 3 billion to USD 4 billion but now it has come down

He said innovation technology should be provided to artisans to increase their efficiency.

He explained that when an Indian exporter gets an order for 50,000 pieces, he takes six months to complete the order. While China takes only 15 days. “Then how are we talking about the development?” he said.

He said there is need to focus on working rather than on talking. “We need factory as well as product compliance.”

Join pointed the existing skill gap in the country along with the lack of modern machinery.

“The off springs of farmers and artisans are not coming into the traditional business.  Government is not doing enough. They have to do same things for the artisans like they are doing for the farmers,” EPCH VC said. (KNN Bureau)