148
S
tate
of
I
ndia
’
s
L
ivelihoods
R
eport
2015
designs is gathered and disseminated to
weavers.
The Development Commissioner (hand-
icrafts) runs a number of schemes for
supporting handicrafts. These cover train-
ing, design, marketing, market support,
exhibition, publicity, export, planning and
research and artisan welfare. Five differ-
ent training schemes address the needs of
entry-level skills as also master craftsmen.
There are two design support schemes and
eleven schemes on marketing and support
for marketing. The market-related schemes
range from construction of physical markets
to meeting the cost of travel of craftsmen
to participate in trade fairs and exhibitions.
There are also 10 schemes for supporting the
export of handicrafts. Six different welfare
schemes recommend building work sheds
and houses, providing support for indigent
artisans, providing group insurance schemes
relating to life and health as well as awards
for master craftsmen and community
organisations of craftsmen.
The Babasaheb Ambedkar Hastshilp
Vikas Yojna has the objective of developing
artisans’ clusters into professionally man-
aged and self-reliant community enterprises
on the principles of effective member par-
ticipation. One hundred and fifty weaver
clusters with 50,000 weavers are covered
under this scheme. In the Outcome Budget
2014–15, the Ministry of Textiles noted:
During the year 2013–14,
`
4.00 crores
have been allocated under the Baba Saheb
Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana Scheme
(Including NER). Out of
`
4.00. Crores, an
amount of
`
3.98 Crore has been sanctioned
during Financial Year 2013–14 for 116 new
projects and reimbursement cases. No fresh
cluster projects have been sanctioned because
of non finalization of location of clusters.
Under marketing and support ser-
vices component, the DC (handicrafts)
undertakes marketing events in India and
abroad. He also organises the Gandhi Shilp
Bazaar and Crafts Bazaar. The craftsmen’s
groups are also facilitated to participate
in exhibitions in India and abroad. Life
insurance cover is made available to all
artisans between 18 and 60 years under the
Handicraft Artisans ComprehensiveWelfare
Scheme. There are also special schemes to
develop crafts in Jammu and Kashmir and
setting up a Hast Kala Academy in Delhi.
The Outcome Budget 2014–15 of the
department notes “
`
21.94 crores have been
incurred in respect of committed liabilities
during Financial Year 2013–14 and 2,18,106
artisans have been covered under Rajiv
Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana. No
coverage of Handicrafts Artisans could be
undertaken under the Bima Yojana due
to non-approval of EFC”. It is strange that
despite allocations, specifically to mitigate
risks in vulnerable livelihoods, insurance
cover could not be provided.
The allocations for handicrafts declined
in 2013–14 (Table 7.7). While in 2014–15
there was an increased allocation, in the
current year the allocation has drastically
declined. There is a need to look into the
requirements of the sector and provide
adequate funding for critical aspects such
as rawmaterial linkages, marketing support
and introducing design and technology
changes. The Skill India programme might
be able to take up the tasks of training and
capacity-building professionally but other
aspects of artisans’ livelihoods should also
be taken care of.
A major challenge for craftsmen is the
limited availability of remunerative mar-
kets, both in India and abroad. While niche
markets that are remunerative are available
to a select few artisans and craftsmen, the
general majority has tomove through either
a public sector entity that organises market-
ing or through voluntary sector organisa-
tions that link the artisans with the market.
Technology, availability of raw materials,
advise on design and customer preferences
as well as skills training are all in short sup-
ply. Availability of finances and also hassle-
free marketing channels are the continuing
issues. There have been a number of schemes
of the government implemented through
