Tableaux on Indian Handicrafts this Republic Day

Ministry of Textiles makes a beginning - floats Tableaux on Indian Handicrafts this Republic Day Ministry of Textiles adds a feather in its cap and marks a beginning this 2012 by floating a Tableaux on Indian Handicrafts at the Republic Day parade for the first time. It is indeed an achievement and matter of immense pride to have the tableaux selected. The Ministry of Defence selected the Indian Handicraft Tableaux along with 9 others, out of the 25 Ministries that applied for display of tableaux during republic day parade. The Indian Handicrafts Tableaux will be no. 14 in the order of march at the parade.Through this tableaux, the theme of Indian Handicrafts is portrayed and the tableaux conveys that while Indian handicraft sector is an unorganized, labour intensive decentralized industry, it provides employment to over 7 million artisans in rural and semi-urban areas. Handicrafts form a substantial part of Indian exports and their share in the exports is increasing each year. Not only has Handicrafts sector emerged as one of the most important foreign exchange earners for India on a sustained basis but has also progressed in terms of product range, number of companies and value of exports has been tremendous.  Handicraft exports touched Rs. 10,534 crores in the year 2010-2011 while production was worth Rs. 17, 557 crores in the same year. The tableaux will showcase the complete process of sourcing, manufacturing, retailing & export of handicrafts in different approaches.  The tableaux will also consist of 10 artisans giving live demonstration of their craft work as well as 32 other crafts and craft itemsIt was due to the focus on this sector and the importance of the role that it plays in the life of the country and of the artisans themselves that the Defence Ministry appreciated and approved the tableaux.The tableaux has been conceived and designed by National Centre for Design and Product Development, a national level design centre set up by Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India to fill up the gap in the areas of design & product development in Indian Handicrafts SectorDuring the last few decades, there has been tremendous diversification, product innovation, product adaptation and product development made in nearly all types of raw material bases for handicrafts.  Products now being produced and exported are not only gifts and decoratives but a whole lot of utility items forming an important part of lifestyles.  In fact, many of these items are so important that usage of the same makes a fashion and status statement.   Jewellery in the past was mostly traditional, high value studded and hand crafted.  Now handcrafted jewellery is produced in contemporary designs and is exported.

Office of Development Commissioner, (Handicrafts) has nurtured and transformed Indian Handicrafts sector through its various flagship schemes such as baba sahib hastshilp vikas yojana, Design & Technology Upgradation Scheme, marketing support services, Human Resource Development, Handicraft Artisans Welfare scheme  and Research & Development scheme.  The approach of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) on aggressive product and design development, training, promotion, publicity and marketing through various schemes, medias and events has helped greatly in sustaining and increasing the exports of Handicrafts and handicrafts have now become a day to day nee of the consumers  not only in the international markets but also in the Indian retail markets.

The approach and strategy envisaged in the 12^th Five Year Plan shall fulfill major gaps in the Handicrafts sector and the handicraft sector: the Magic of Gifted Hands will be the sunrise sector from the point of view of employment creation, income generation, incremental growth in the livelihoods due to more production and supply of goods. Major initiatives shall include setting up of national level craft university for providing skilled and trained manpower, advanced technology training centers at clusters for improvement in production process, handicraft parks for integrated and inclusive development of infrastructure. Emphasis will be on design and new product development and penetration in non traditional markets and the approaches and strategies shall be aimed towards focused markets and focused clusters