Over 68 lakh handicraft artisans and counting

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SME Times News Bureau | 22 May, 2012
The number of handicraft artisans in the country is estimated at around 68.86 lakh as per the result of the census of handicrafts artisans available till now, Minister of State for Textiles Panabaaka Lakshmi said Monday.

"The number of male and females handicraft artisans in the country including of Kumhar (Potter) of Orissa is estimated as 30.25 lakh and 38.61 lakh respectively. However the state-wise figures shall only be known once the census of handicrafts artisans is completed," Lakshmi said Monday in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

"The census of handicrafts artisans is in progress," she added.

As per Handloom Census of India (2009-10), there are 29,08,800 adult handloom weavers across the country. Of this, 22,03,038 are Female weavers.

Percentage of full time women weavers is more than 65% in most of the States except North Eastern States, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttrakhand.

In her reply, she stated that a range of schemes are being implemented to help the handicraft sector.

To improve the skill of workers engaged in handicrafts including Stone Carving and Metal Carving industry in Odisha, the Government is implementing the scheme of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY), Human Resource Development and Design and Technological Upgradation, she stated.

In addition, she said, through Market Support Services Scheme, artisans are encouraged to participate in Gandhi Shilp Bazars, Craft Bazars, Sourcing Shows and Exhibitions etc.

"Besides Government have set up 21 Urban Haat on the pattern of Dilli Haat in big towns/metropolitan cities to provide direct marketing facilities to handicraft artisans/handloom weavers," she added.

Under the Twelfth Five Year Plan, the Government plans implementation of schemes of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY), Design & Technology Up-gradation Scheme, Marketing Support Services Scheme, Research & Development Scheme, Human Resource Development Scheme and Handicraft Artisans Comprehensive Welfare Scheme.

"Two New scheme namely special scheme for North Eastern Region and infrastructure development has been proposed under 12th Five Year Plan," Lakshmi added.