SIKKIM: Workshop stresses on skill development in handicraft


Gangtok: Handicraft is an important part of the economy. It has a great potential for sustaining livelihood. The Government of India is laying focus on design, product development, capacity building of artisans through transfer of design technology, to enhance the product quality, productivity etc. To supplement the efforts of the State Government in increasing employment, promoting inter state trade and export potentiality in the field of handicrafts, Government of India , Ministry of Textiles, Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) established its Marketing and Service Extension Centres all over the country. One such centre has been functioning in Gangtok. In order to discuss and deliberate on the marketing of the Handicrafts of the State and also to promote the new and less known crafts of the State, the Centre organized a one-day State Level Marketing Workshop on Handicrafts of Sikkim in Gangtok on March 25.

The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. M. Ismail, Asst. General Manager, NABARD and participated by artisans from DHH Training Institutes, Nayuma Women’s Cooperative Society, Chandmari Women’s Cooperative Society and United Progressive Organization of Sikkim.

Mr. S. C. Pattanaik, Assistant Director (H), in his welcome address said that handicrafts is a hand made art or craft with artistic value. He elaborated on how handicrafts play an important role for providing sustainable employment to many artisans of Sikkim, which is very rich from tourism and handicrafts points of views. He also informed about the specially organized programmes like craft bazaar, handicrafts expos etc. to assist the artisans by directly promoting sales of their products.

Mentioning about the various schemes, he said that for continuous design and technological up-gradation of quality output and enhanced value addition, the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastashilpa Vikas Yozana (AHVY), is the scheme presently available with Development Commissioner for the development of handicrafts. He also described how Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms has been extending support for skill up-gradation of artisans, design and marketing support.

Mr. B.K. Jha, Investigator, Marketing and Service Extension Centres (MSEC), Gangtok, explained the success of Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana, as a welfare measure and also mentioned that around 6 Health Camps and Mobile OPD Camps have been organized during 2009-10. Representatives from NABARD, DHH, SICON, SIDBI, MSME ,SRDA also deliberated on various schemes and programmes which aim to promote sales of the products, exposure of craft persons to market, create more awareness for handicrafts. During interactive session, artisans of various crafts participated in the discussion. The main problems of marketing and working capital were discussed and it was suggested that artisans should avail loan facility through Artisans Credit Card. (With IPR input)

[SOURCE: SIKKIM REPORTER/EDITED BY ASHOK CHATTERJEE]


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