Journey of Handicraft Industry In India

 Handicrafts Industry in INDIA

Handicrafts products of India are very popular worldwide and are one of the important suppliers of handicrafts to the world market. The handicraft industry in India is highly labor-intensive. The industry is cottage-based and decentralized and is spread all over the country in rural and urban areas. Numerous artisans are engaged in crafts work on a part-time basis. The industry employs over six million artisans who include a large number of women. People belonging to the weaker sections of society are involved. The very first handicrafts to be made by humans started right at the start of mankind’s progression-marking which was influenced by the basic necessity for survival. The first handicrafts ever made i.e, TOOLS was made in the early 2.6 million years ago which they used to survive, hunt, protect themselves from highly creativeDespiteemployswild animals, etc.

Crafts also include cultural representation, going forward Mankind has defined crafts as symbols of Culture and Emotions. After the civilization of mankind, the creations of societies and nations, handicrafts played an important role in representing the culture and traditions of any country or region. Crafts are an important means of preserving the rich art of our traditions, heritage, and culture, traditional skills, and talents that are associated with people’s lifestyle and history. Handicrafts promote the heritage of a country through the use of indigenous materials and it preserves traditional knowledge and talents. Handicraft is the expression of our history and we think we must encourage artisans to continue the craft production to show the beauty of this art.

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Diversified Industry

Various attempts have been made to define this broad and diversified industry. The following definition strives to cover the diversity and complexity of the Handicraft Industry. Handicrafts are very important in terms of economic development. They provide enough employment opportunities even with low wealth investments and become an eminent medium for overseas income. India is one of the leading producers and suppliers of handicraft products on the globe. Before the industrial evolution, this art and industry were a potential economic advantage for the country.

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Fullstopkart (www.fullstopkart.com) as a Startup has observed that:

In recent years, the importance of crafts has increased due to their cultural and financial values. Small-scale industries, including handicrafts, can play an important role in the development of the economies of developed and developing countries alike. 90-95% of the world’s total industrial products are produced in small workshops run by less than 100 people.

In Asian countries, handicrafts are as highly wanted as mechanized products in quality and volume and are a major source of their foreign earnings via exports. These countries are focusing on the development of the artisanal industry to strengthen the economy.

The Indian handicrafts industry is a highly labor-intensive, cottage based and decentralized industry. The industry is spread all over the country mainly in rural and urban areas. Most of the manufacturing units are located in rural and small towns, and there is huge market potential in all Indian cities and abroad. The handicraft industry is a major source of income for rural communities employing over six million artisans including a large number of women and people belonging to the weaker sections of the society.
The Handicraft sector is a highly creative sector and produces a large variety of crafts products. This industry is a localized segment of the domestic and international market. In India, the production of craft products is done on both large and small scales. Because of low capital investment people can start their business on small scale. Through this flexibility, the demand and supply can be managed.

Though the Indian Handicraft industry is considered a cottage industry, but it has evolved as one of the major revenue sources over the years. There has been consistent growth of 15% over few years and the industry has evolved as one of the major contributors to export and foreign revenue generation.

There is a huge demand for Indian Handicraft products in both the national and international markets. To match the demand and supply with quality, there is a need to have greater technological support and innovativeness with the uniqueness in the industry.

Fullstopkart’s  (www.fullstopkart.com) Fact collection (according to  2017):

India’s rich cultural diversity and heritage provide a unique and huge resource for developing craft products.

• The Indian Handicraft Industry is showing a continuous growth rate of 20% every year.

• The handicraft industry is one of the important segments of the decentralized sector in India.

• Major parts of the industry operate in rural and semi-urban areas throughout the country and have potential Indian and International markets with around 67000 exporters to tap the market.

• According to the national census of handicrafts, undertaken by the National Council for Applied Economic Research the value of handicrafts produced last year were Rs.26,213 Crore.

• This Industry provides huge employment opportunities to artisans that include women and people belonging to backward and weaker societies. This is one of the major sources of income there.

• The Indian Handicraft Industry is a $100 billion industry worldwide.

• India’s contribution to the world market is 1.2%

• The total exports of crafts items: – Rs. 13412.92 Crore.

• Industry’s share in India’s exports:- 1.51 %

• In spite of having diversified products, some parts of the Indian market are still untapped and the market is price sensitive. Products are high priced in big and metro cities, which are beyond, reach of people belonging middle and lower middle class.

• Craft producers have to compete on price, quality, and delivery for different segments.

• There is a poor promotion for craft products in the national market.

• There is a lack of awareness about new traditions and among craftsmen and there is a need for technological support and training.

Role of Handicrafts in the Indian Economy  The Handicrafts Sector has a significant & important role in the nation’s economy. It provides employment to a vast segment of Artists in rural & semi-urban areas and generates substantial foreign exchange for the nation while protecting its cultural heritage. Handicrafts have great potential, as they hold the key for sustaining not only the existing set of millions of artisans spread over length and breadth of the nation but also for the increasingly large number of new freshers in the crafts activity. Presently, handicrafts contribute substantially to employment generation and exports. The Handicraft sector has, however, suffered due to its being unorganized, with the additional constraints of lack of education, low capital, and poor exposure to new technologies, absence of market intelligence, and a poor institutional framework. Despite these constraints, the sector has witnessed a significant growth of 3 % annually. Some of the promising areas in the crafts sector during the Xth Five Year Plan had been:
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• Exports continued to grow for high value-added crafts products.
• Consumer tastes changed rapidly on account of economic liberalization.
• Focus on quality and product diversification with increasing consumer awareness.
• The increasing challenge offered by the availability of mass-produced competing product lines using different raw materials (often man-made) and mechanized production techniques.
• Government policy envisaged a greater role for NGOs, and participation of private resources both human & financial.
  
  

Fullstopkart’s News observation along with facts: 

The ministry of state for textiles stated the textile & handicrafts sector is economically important from the point of low capital investment, high ratio of value addition, and a high potential for export and foreign exchange earnings for the country said at an ASSOCHAM event.

The industry employs around 7 million workers directly and indirectly, which include a large number of women and people belonging to the weaker sections of the society, said Ministery of Textiles.

Handlooms & Handicraft and women, both the terms have their identity and the fruitful amalgamation of both gives them a more meaningful identity. These industries are a major source of income for the rural population in general and rural women in particular. Though a large number of the female workforce, both urban and tribal, from all sections of the society are involved inappropriate returns for their efforts, said Mr. Tamta. The joint study released by ASSOCHAM-Resurgent on 'Women in Textiles & Handicrafts Industry' reveals that the market size of India's textile market is expected to touch $250 billion in the next two years from the current level of $150 billion. The textile sector in India accounts for 10% of the country's manufacturing production, 5% of India's GDP, and 13% of India's export earnings. The textile and apparel sector is the second-largest employment provider in the country employing nearly 51 million people directly and 68 million people indirectly in 2015-16, adds the study.

During the previous two years, the numbers were 7,938 workers affected by the closure of 27 units in 2015-16 and 5,384 workers affected from the closure of 21 units in 2014-15, taking the cumulative figure to over 17,600 workers impacted by the closure of 67 units in the last three years.

It is estimated that out of the total number of persons employed in Handlooms, Handicrafts, and Sericulture, about 50% are women.

Often victims of gender inequality as it is embedded deep in our society and also represents our social-political structure. Women have embarked on a new journey to discover and unravel their talents through their dedication and hard work despite being bound with family obstacles and social drawbacks. Many institutions have pledged to support the basic needs and empower indigenous women to expand their opportunities. The sole intention of these organizations is to provide women access to necessary education, health care, employment, and social standing. These vulnerable and dependent women are trained mostly in the handicrafts, textile, and weaving industry to make them independent and economically empowered.

Challenges observed by Fullstopkart  (www.fullstopkart.com)

The sector needs massive investment, which remains one of its biggest challenges as capital from formal financial institutions remains elusive. This leaves it dependent on sources such as bank loans, equity, and donation. Moreover, to attract large investments, the sector must boast a certain scale of production, which would eliminate middlemen and put the primary producers directly in touch with investors and buyers.

Help could take the form of model handloom clusters supported by the government, small saving schemes for artisans, rebate schemes,s and a relief fund to cushion poverty-stricken weavers from market shocks.

The result of all endeavors must be to ensure that artisans are valued for their skills and become active beneficiaries of the wealth created through their craft. An inclusive and socially responsible approach that supports producers through the entire value chain would strengthen both production and marketing and help leverage traditional skills to create internationally competitive craft products. Key stakeholders including the government, handloom experts, designers, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, artisans, and livelihood organizations must partner to achieve these goals. A shift from subsidy-based to market-led sustainable development is possible.

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How Fullstopkart’s  (www.fullstopkart.com) is going to serve the Industry:

We Fullstopkart (www.fullstopkat.com) will provide a platform for selling and marketing crafts of small to large scale producers or suppliers of handicrafts.
Through this innovative platform, we give opportunities for artists from rural India also.

Fullstopkart have the following opportunities:

1.Platform space  for Small to Large Scale Producers of Handicrafts
2.Platform space for Professional to small artists.
3. Opportunity for small self-help groups
4.Many more promotional benefits for all Handicraft groups.

Fullstopkart’s Classification of Handicraft Products:

1. Articles of everyday use
2. Decorative items

Artisans and Craftsman use different media to express their handicraft products. The divergences of handicraft are as follows:

• Textile based handicrafts
• Clay, Metal, and Jewellery
• Woodwork
• Stone Craft
• Glass and Ceramic

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