Govt launches Handicrafts & Carpet Sector Skill Council

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SME Times News Bureau | 19 Mar, 2015
The Government has launched Handicrafts & Carpet Sector Skill Council, which has been set up to promote skill development amongst artisans, craftpersons and workers of handicrafts and carpet products.

Handicrafts & Carpet Sector Skill Council was launched by Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship & Parliamentary Affair along with distributing the Handicrafts export awards for the year 2012-13 by Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union Minister of State for Textiles in New Delhi on Wednesday.

This Council will be responsible for developing occupational standards, setting up labour market information and introduce certification & assessment mechanism and guidance in all aspects of skill development to the artisans, craftspersons and workers. The Council will operate from New Delhi further added Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director – Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

While launching the Handicrafts & Carpet Sector Skill Council, Rudy highlighted that the role of skill development in Indian economy is very important keeping in view of the fact that percentage of skill manpower in India is very low as compared to China, Korea, Japan and Germany etc.

"There is therefore, great need to develop skill of all sectors of the economy so that India become competitive in production of good quality products. If India has to implement slogan of 'Make in India' then the first step is to develop skill India as without skill good quality production to be competitive in International Market is not possible," he added.

On the occasion of distribution of awards, Union Minister of State for Textiles Santosh Kumar Gangwar appreciated the wide and varied range of handicrafts produced in different region of the country which are already being exported world over.

He exhorted the exporters to develop new lines, new products and give emphasis on good skill, good quality to make products more competitive in world market. Ministry of Textiles will extend all possible support in this direction.

Handicraft export has been growing at an average annual growth rate of 15 percent during the last decade. However, growth during the current year was 17.55 percent in dollars terms as compared to previous year.

Exports of handicrafts during the year 2013-14 was Rs. 23,504.42 crore, informed Rakesh Kumar.

Handicrafts export awards to 68 companies for excellence in exports performance for the year 2012-13 along with (three) Life Time Achievement Awards, ( two) Special Commendation for outstanding contribution towards promotion of Handicrafts Sector.

The export awards were instituted by EPCH in the year 1989 under the overall supervision and guidance and control of O/o Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).

The objective was to create sense of healthy competition within the exporting community to achieve more and more so that exports of handicrafts continue to grow year after year.