POTENTIAL OF THE RURAL CRAFTS
The Significance of Rural Crafts in India:
- India has a rich heritage of rural crafts that have been passed down through generations.
- These crafts provide a source of livelihood for many rural communities and offer opportunities for skill development and entrepreneurship, contributing significantly to the economy.
- Rural tourism can be a sustainable source of income and employment for local communities, while also preserving India’s cultural and natural heritage.
- Rural tourism supports traditional crafts and skills, promotes eco-tourism, and sustains local agriculture and food production.
One District One Product (ODOP) Initiative:
- The Indian government launched the ODOP program to promote traditional industries and handicrafts in every district of the country.
- Each district is identified based on its specific product, and efforts are made to promote and develop it through branding, marketing, and infrastructure enhancements.
- The aim is to create employment opportunities, increase income for rural artisans and entrepreneurs, and preserve traditional crafts and skills.
Craft Villages and Linking Textile with Tourism:
- The government has identified eight craft villages under the ‘Linking Textile with Tourism’ initiative to promote crafts and tourism at a single location.
- This initiative aims to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage of traditional crafts while harnessing the growing tourism industry.
- The selected craft villages include Raghurajpur, Tirupati, Vadaj, Naini, Anegundi, Mahabalipuram, Taj Ganj, and Amer.
Promising Exports and Employment Opportunities:
- Handicraft exports from India have been steadily increasing, reaching Rs. 20,151 crore in FY 2020-21 despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Rural craft industries offer employment opportunities that prevent migration to urban areas in search of work.
G20’s Potential Role:
- The G20 can facilitate better access to international markets for Indian handicrafts by reducing trade barriers, simplifying customs procedures, and promoting trade fairs and exhibitions.
- Collaboration with the Indian government to strengthen intellectual property laws and enforcement mechanisms can protect the designs and techniques used by Indian artisans.
BETTING BIG ON BAMBOO
The Versatility and Potential of Bamboo:
- Bamboo, known as “green gold,” has immense potential to create eco-friendly products that benefit the environment.
- It is a versatile material that can be shaped, split, or compressed to produce various products, offering a sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative to plastic, wood, and aluminum.
Abundance of Bamboo Resources in India:
- India possesses the world’s second-largest bamboo resources, encompassing around 136 species spread across 13.96 million hectares.
- States like Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha have significant bamboo-bearing areas.
Increasing Bamboo Production:
- The total number of bamboo culms has significantly increased compared to the assessment in 2019.
- However, India’s annual bamboo production stands at 14.6 million tonnes, with varying yields of 1 to 3 tonnes per hectare.
Bamboo Trade:
- India exports bamboo and bamboo products to over 154 countries, earning USD 140.47 million during April-November 2020-2021.
- Despite exports, India is still a net importer of bamboo.
National Bamboo Mission:
- The restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was launched in 2018-19 to develop the complete value chain of the bamboo sector.
- NBM focuses on various aspects, from planting and processing to marketing, skill enhancement, and brand building in a cluster approach.
Promoting Bamboo Products in National and Global Markets:
- The GeM portal provides a dedicated window for registering bamboo products and processing machines for government procurement.
- More than 20 Bamboo Mandis have been approved to promote e-trading of bamboo.
- The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd has launched an online shopping portal for bamboo promotion.
- Bamboo charcoal export can ensure efficient utilization of bamboo waste, making the bamboo business more profitable.
Global Demand for Bamboo Charcoal:
- The world import demand for bamboo charcoal has been growing steadily, particularly in countries like the USA, Japan, Korea, Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, and the UK, with minimal import duty.
Potential of Bamboo Residue Biochar:
- Bamboo residue biochar can be used to enhance crop production and mitigate climate change in India, though standardized biochar production protocols are yet to be established.
Zero Waste Ideology:
- Utilizing every part of the bamboo tree is crucial to achieve the ideal of zero waste and ensure maximum utilization and sustainability.
RURAL CRAFTS FOR LIVELIHOOOD
The Significance of Crafts:
- Crafts refer to occupations or activities that require manual dexterity or artistic skill.
- In rural areas, traditional crafts are primarily produced for practical everyday use.
- Handicrafts in India, known as “hastshilp,” “dastkari,” “karigari,” or “hastkala,” are not only visually pleasing but also serve a practical purpose.
Geographical Indicators and Associated Handicrafts:
- Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products originating from specific regions and possessing qualities associated with that origin.
- GI tagging encourages the preservation of biodiversity, local resources, and entrepreneurship while providing employment opportunities.
- Handicrafts associated with specific states have received GI tags, such as Kani Shawl and Papier Mache in Jammu & Kashmir, Chamba Chappal in Himachal Pradesh, and various crafts in other states.
Importance of Crafts:
- The handloom and handicraft industry has long been the backbone of India’s rural economy, providing employment to millions of artisans alongside agriculture.
- India is home to approximately 7 million artisans, and their skills are passed down through generations, catering to both domestic and international markets.
- Key importing countries for Indian handicrafts include the US, UK, UAE, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, and Australia.
- Handicraft exports from India reached Rs. 25,706.3 crore (US$ 3.5 billion) in 2019-20.
Challenges Faced by Craft Practitioners:
- Craft practitioners face challenges in adapting to changing business practices, lacking market awareness, limited digital reach, inadequate access to funds, and insufficient institutional support.
- The wages of artisans have not kept pace with income growth in other sectors, leading to a decline in interest among the younger generation.
- According to the Fourth All India Handloom Census 2019-20, 66.3% of weaver households earn less than Rs. 5,000 per month.
Government, Corporate, and NGO Interventions:
- The Government of India implements various schemes to develop artisans, such as the National Handicraft Development Programme and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme.
- Awards like the “Shilp Guru” and National Awards recognize exemplary craftsmanship and contribution to the handicrafts sector.
- TRIFED, under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, supports marketing and development of tribal handicrafts and handloom products.
- Initiatives like the “Antaran Initiative” by Tata Trusts help artisans find new markets and address challenges to improve rural income.
Crafts and Tourism:
- Crafts and tourism are closely connected, as tourists often purchase craft souvenirs during their travels.
- Rural tourism provides opportunities for tourists to engage with local craftspeople, learn about craft processes, and understand the social, cultural, and environmental aspects of the sector.
- Crafts are an integral part of the rural tourism experience, contributing to the selection of “Best Tourism Villages” by the UNWTO.
Conclusion:
The artisan economy is essential for inclusive development, particularly for women and marginalized groups. It serves as a significant source of livelihood alongside agriculture, promoting cultural preservation and economic growth.
FOSTERING RURAL CRAFTS THROUGH ONE DISTRICT ONE PRODUCT (ODOP)
The ODOP (One District One Product) Initiative:
- The ODOP initiative focuses on achieving balanced regional development through various means.
- Its goal is to promote localized products and services to improve the standard of living of local people and contribute to nation-building.
- Uttar Pradesh was the first state to implement ODOP in 2018, aiming to create a sustainable environment for art and craft products.
- Due to the success in Uttar Pradesh, the central government is implementing ODOP in all states and union territories.
- ODOP covers both agricultural and non-agricultural products, including food grains, handicrafts, handlooms, and more, contributing to socio-economic development.
ODOP Initiative and Rural Crafts:
- The ODOP initiative encompasses agricultural products, textiles, and other handicrafts, leading to a positive impact on the art and crafts sector.
- Major goals of ODOP include promoting indigenous arts and crafts, preserving traditional knowledge, supporting artisans, and enhancing livelihood opportunities.
- A select list of art and crafts and their places of production have been identified under the ODOP initiative.
ODOP Prospects and Benefits:
- The ODOP GeM Bazar promotes sales and procurement of ODOP products across the country, and products are showcased in international platforms through various agencies.
- The scheme offers numerous benefits, including local and rural development, preservation of art and culture, skill enhancement, contribution to nation-building, and promoting tourism and export potentials.
Issues and Challenges:
- Artisans and craftsmen face challenges related to institutional arrangements, inadequate funding, ineffective marketing linkages, low adoption of technology, and lack of marketing skills.
Way Forward:
- The ODOP scheme has boosted the confidence of artisans and rural entrepreneurs, promoting self-reliance and socio-economic empowerment.
- It aims to correct the imbalance towards urban development and foster all-inclusive and balanced regional development by addressing issues like unemployment, poverty, income inequality, and rural-urban migration.
PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF HANDLOOM AND HANDICRAFT SECTOR
The Significance of Art and Craft in Rural Communities:
- Throughout history, art and craft have been an integral part of rural culture and lifestyle.
- The Indian crafts and art date back to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, and they have evolved over time while preserving their defining characteristics.
- The development of various art forms is influenced by factors like the availability of raw materials, the environment, legacy skill transfer, religious beliefs, and local agricultural traditions.
Unique Art Forms and Crafts in Different Regions:
- Specific art forms have flourished in different regions based on the availability of resources and traditional practices.
- For example, Aurangabad village near Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, specializes in clay pottery due to the presence of suitable clay nearby, providing a livelihood for the village.
- The western part of India is known for its dyeing industry, which includes bagru, lehariya, Bandhej, and Sanganeri block printing.
- Silk weaving is practiced across India using different varieties of silk yarn, with Mulberry Silk being prevalent and Tussar Silk being more popular in eastern India.
Preserving and Standardizing Crafts:
- Initiatives have been taken to standardize craft products, such as Handloom Mark, Silk mark, and India Handloom Brand (IHB), which indicate quality certification.
- Geographic Identification tagging is being used to protect the origin and identity of these crafts.
Government Schemes for Handloom and Handicraft Sector:
Schemes for Handloom Sector:
- National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) with various components like Block Level Clusters, Handloom Marketing Assistance, and Weavers’ MUDRA Scheme.
- Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) including Mega Clusters and Block Level Clusters.
- Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) with components like Converged Mahatma Gandhi BunkarBima Yojana (MGBBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).
- Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS) providing financial assistance for raw materials, looms, design innovation, infrastructure, skill development, marketing, and concessional loans.
Schemes for Handicraft Sector:
- The National Handicraft Development Programme (NHDP) with components like Base Line Survey & Mobilization of Artisans, Design & Technology Upgradation, Human Resource Development, Direct Benefit to Artisans, Infrastructure and Technology Support, Research and Development, and Marketing Support & Services.
- The Comprehensive Handicraft Development Scheme (CHCDS) with components like Mega Cluster and Special projects under Integrated Development and Promotion of Handicraft (IDPH).
Funding and Implementation:
- The schemes are Central Sector Schemes, and budgetary allocation is not made on a State/UT-wise basis.
- Funds are released directly to eligible handloom agencies, weavers, and artisans based on viable proposals recommended by State functionaries.
