First Tableaux on Indian Handicrafts this Republic Day

Ministry of Textiles makes a beginning this year by floating a Tableaux on Indian Handicrafts on the Republic Day 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. Indian Handicrafts sector emerged as one of the most important foreign exchange earners for the country. Handicraft exports touched Rs. 10,534 crores in the year 2010-2011 while production was worth Rs. 17, 557 crores in the same year. Shri S. S Gupta DC Handicraft while addressing to media said, “Indian handicrafts are part our old age tradition. Their rich and diverse work needs to be depicted to the world. This tableaux gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to all the artisans across our country”.

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 items. 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 Sector.

During 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 decorative but a whole lot of utility items forming an important part of lifestyles.

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 and strategy envisaged in the 12th 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 nontraditional markets.

The Ministry of Defense 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.

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