IN HAND: Joint Director of the Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation K.A. Paraddi (extreme left) looking at the handloom products on display at the "Sindhoori" crafts mela at Indira Glass House in Hubli on Thursday.

HUBLI: Joint Director of the Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation K.A. Paraddi has urged artisans and manufacturers of handloom products to design products to suit the needs of customers in order to face competition in the market.

Inaugurating a 14-day exhibition of handloom products, "Sindhoori", at the Indira Glass House here on Thursday, Mr. Paraddi said there was a great demand for handloom products, which were an integral part of the Indian culture, in the international market.

He said the handloom sector had made considerable strides as artisans were using newer techniques and had developed new designs and skills. Exhibitions like "Sindhoori" provided a platform for artisans to showcase their products, he said.

Importance given

Deputy Director of the Central Government's Employees Service Institute, Bangalore, K.V. Mani said that governments had always given importance to the handloom sector and had also introduced new schemes for the benefit of artisans.

He said steps had been taken to develop handloom clusters in Gadag, Mahalingapur, Kollegal, Challakere and Molakalmur. Deputy Director of the Department of Handloom and Textiles Viranna recalled the success of the "Sindhoori" craft mela of 2004, which had recorded sales amounting to nearly Rs. 50 lakh.

Joint Director of District Industries Centre (DIC) R.I. Kumbar, who presided, urged officials of the Department of Handloom and Textiles to provide artisans an opportunity to display their products during the State-level industrial exhibition "INCOMEX-07", which is to be held in Hubli from February 22. As many as 18 artisans from the State and 43 artisans from other states participated in the event, which will conclude on February 25.

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