Other States - Maharashtra   

Call to expand horizon of handicrafts sector

Special Correspondent

Other avenues to be provided to craftsmen to make them globally competitive

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Industries Minister, Narpat Singh Rajvi, on Tuesday underlined the need for making new experiments in the manufacturing of handicraft products in accordance with the demand in the market to provide global recognition to the handicraft sector and create better marketing opportunities.

Mr. Rajvi, addressing a State-level seminar of craftspersons held here as part of the Jaipur Agenda Action Group, said the combination of human resource development with new initiatives in production would take the handicraft sector to new heights and expand the horizons of the avocation which was still considered a conventional field.

The seminar was organised by the Rajasthan Non-Farm Development Agency to promote handicrafts as an important source of livelihood. Mr. Rajvi said the rural `Haats' established at district headquarters in the State, an urban `Haat' opened in Jaipur and similar other avenues provided to the craftsmen would make them globally competitive and help them specialise in their chosen fields.

The Deputy Chairman of the State Livelihood Mission, M.L. Mehta, pointed out that Rajasthan had a share of 12 per cent in the export of handicraft products from the country. He said the craftspersons should constantly endeavour to improve their designs and ensure good quality of products.

Mr. Mehta pointed out that the Livelihood Mission had selected Dausa, Dungarpur, Baran, Churu and Banswara districts for providing "micro-finance" to craftsmen and said the small handicraft units, scattered over large areas, should be combined as clusters to facilitate the arrangement of finances for them.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Call to expand horizon of handicrafts sector
Call for overhaul of education

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu