New Delhi, Apr 6 (KNN) To upgrade the skills of the artisans and to provide qualified and trained workforce to the handicraft sector, the Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has formulated Human Resource Development Scheme under the Ministry of Textiles.

Minister of State OF Textiles, Ajay Tamta informed the house that Indian handicrafts products have an edge over other countries crafts products like China as they are mechanized ones and thus India is well equipped and skilled to face global competition.

He said that 141 such programs were implemented by National Center for Design and Product Development (NCDPD) benefiting more than 2800 artisans during 2017-18.

Further he informed that Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) has also executed skill development programs for artisans sanctioned under Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development (CHCDS) Scheme of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) for Narsapur and Jodhpur mega clusters.

Highlighting on the numbers, Tamta 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 durries and hand block printing under Jodhpur Mega Cluster till date.

He further added that during 2017-18, 149 Technical Training Programs were sanctioned benefiting 2980 artisans, 172 Soft Skill Training Programs benefitting 3440 artisans.

Apart from these training programs, 510 artisans were imparted training through Guru Shisya Prampara Training Scheme and 400 artisans through Established Institution during 2017-18, he added. (With PIB inputs)