Policy Gaps Study on Crafts Sector in India: Opportunities, Challenges and Promotion of Craftsman Welfare Stratagem in Tamil Nadu
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INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 POLICY GAPS STUDY ON CRAFTS SECTOR IN INDIA: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES AND PROMOTION OF CRAFTSMAN WELFARE STRATAGEM IN TAMIL NADU Dr. GUGHAN BABU AZHAGESHAN Assistant Professor of History Madras Christian College (Autonomous) Chennai-59. Tamil Nadu, India. Email: [email protected] INTRODUCTION This research article highlights the various welfare schemes introduced by the State and Central Governments for the upliftment of the artisans. The handicrafts sector played very significant role in India’s economy and employment. This unorganized sector provides livelihoods to the craftsmen in rural and semi urban areas and its generated foreign exchange. It is mainly located backward and inaccessible areas and originally handicraft started as a full time and part time activity in the rural area, but, it has now transformed into a prosperous socio economic activity due to the significant market demand. In spite of the merits this sector has many times suffered due to its unorganized nature, alone with the additional limitation like lack of awareness, investment and poor adoption to innovative technologies, absence of lack of market intelligence and poor institutional framework. To overcome these issues at present in India, the office of Development Commissioner (Handicraft) is trying to implement the followed seven schemes. SCHEMES SPONSORED BY CENTRAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT 1. BABA SAHEB HASTSHIP VIKAS YOJANA This scheme main objective is to promote Indian handicrafts by increasing artisan’s clusters into efficiently manages and self-sufficient crafts community for enterprise of the principle of effective participation and mutual collaboration. It is promoting handicraft products market and expansion of manufacture, huge production of heritage and languish handicrafts. It’s one of the most successful schemes and several of its components such as terms of a credit assurance, margin funds, and guidance of artisans and formation of raw Volume 9 Issue 1 2020 23 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 material banks have the highest potential of providing the required impetus to the handicraft sector 2. DESIGN AND TECHNICAL UP-GRADATION This scheme aims to improve of artisan’s skill through improvement of innovative designs and prototype produce for the international market, its revival of languishing handicrafts and preservation and promote of heritage. This scheme has the following components: Handicraft awareness Program, monetary helps to supply of tools and safety equipments. New design and technological upgrading training. Integrated design and technical development scheme. National award, shilp guru award and National merit certificate for excellent contribution in handicraft industry. Support to exporters and rural entrepreneur for design sculpt. Business-related market intelligence by way of new design, style and technological colour project. 3. MARKETING SUPPORT AND SERVICES SCHEMES a) Domestic Marketing Marketing Events covering handicrafts fair, Gandhi Shilp Bazaar exhibition; nationwide craft fair and consumer merchant meet. Marketing Services covering workshops, and marketing study inside the nationwide. b) International Marketing Advertising events covered art and cultural exchange plan, trade fair, consumer, merchant meets and involvement of entrepreneurs, Self Help Groups, association national and state honours. Public welfare measures covering initiative to problems arise out of National and International laws. c) Publicity Advertising through print, electronic media, maps, website, brochures’ catalogues, and pamphlets. 4. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT SCHEME The (HRDS) has been formulated to offer skilled and qualified workforce in the handicraft industry. The artisans shall contribute to a strong production base leading to high Volume 9 Issue 1 2020 24 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 quality crafts that provide to present day market condition. This plan also aims to promote human resources for the industry in terms of skilled cadre of designer for the crafts by offering a relevant contribution through its components. These all the provision made for the communicate soft skill, consideration required for the craftsman to enable them to take on their business profitably. 5. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SCHEME The R and D Scheme was launched to conduct surveys and studies of important crafts and make in detail analysis of specific problems of crafts in order to promote useful inputs to support policy plan and fine tune the ongoing program and to have a free evaluation of the plan implemented by handicraft development commissioner. 6. HANDICRAFTS ARTISANS COMPREHENSIVE WELFARE SCHEME The scheme has been included in the 12th Five Year Plan as one of the major schemes with the following two main components, aimed at Insurance Cover and Health Care of Handicrafts Artisan and their family. a). Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana Its main aims at financing facility for the craftsmen community to access to the best of healthcare amenities in the nation. This plan covers not only the craftsmen, but also any three family members out of spouse, dependent children and parents. At current this the Scheme is on hold for its amalgamation with RSBY. b). Aam Admi Bima Yojana for Handicrafts Artisans This scheme is to offer life insurance security to the craftsmen, among the age group of 18 to 60 years old. Moreover 4038 craftsmen have been enclosed under AABY during the year 2014-15. c). Support to Artisans in Indigent Circumstances This scheme supported to the craftsman for the period of their old age. It’s trying to provide pension and social security and boost to the handicraft industry in India. Volume 9 Issue 1 2020 25 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 d). Credit Guarantee Scheme The component is envisaged to alleviate the problem of collateral security or 3rd party guarantee and remove impediments to flow of credit to handicrafts sector. e). Interest Subvention Scheme This scheme is offered to credit access for craftsman, through initiating interest subventions for banks. It is planned that a 3% interest shall be accessible for artisans for loans taken from banks. Permissible amount is maximum Rs.50,000 for a duration of 3 years. f). Issue of Identity Cards and Creation of Data-Base This scheme recognized for real artisans and its provide ID cards, and during the current year, moreover 36,561 Identity cards have been distributed to Handicrafts Artisans Comprehensive Welfare Scheme an amount of Rs.5.80 crores and Rs.2 lakh artisans under the Bima Yojana respectively sanctioned. 7. INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT SCHEME This schemes main target to the improvement of world class infrastructure in India to support handicraft manufacture, and develop the craft quality and price to enable it to participate in the world market. To build up infrastructure in a reasonable way to support handicraft industry. To pledge availability necessary technology, craft diversification, new design improvement, craft raw material banks, marketing and promotion facilities in nearest place. To increase the competitiveness of the handicrafts in terms of improved market share and ensure Productivity by highest unit value realization of the crafts. To improve the skilled artisans in the country by improving high class institutes it’s provide formal courses and degree course in Handicrafts and enhancing skillfulness develop in the nation. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEME OF FUND FOR REGENERATION OF TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES (SFURTI) (i) Three years training Scheme in Bronze Icon making at Swamimalai (ii) Two years training in Pattern Making of Brass Lamps at Natchiarkoil (iii) One year training in Thanjavur Art plate in Thanjavur (iv) Three years training in Bronze Icon making under Gurukulam method Volume 9 Issue 1 2020 26 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 (v) One year training in Thanjavur Painting for 100 women at Srirangam (vi) Three months training in Pattern making in Brass Lamps TABLE: 1. THE COMPONENTS OF THE SCHEME ARE AS UNDER Sl.No Particulars Objects 1. Social Interventions Survey and formulation of project plan Community empowerment through SHG Issuing identity cards to the artisans 2. Marketing Interventions Organizing exhibition Publicity through printing and electronic mode Setting up of handicrafts emporia and tours Entrepreneurship development program 3. Financial Interventions Margin money support Wage compensation, credit guaranteed Service charge for implementing agencies Provide need based assistance 4. Cluster specific infrastructure Established of a resource centre for major crafts Related interventions Established of E-kiosks facility center and development of Export and Entrepreneurship Creation of raw materials bank and common facility center 5. Technological Intervention To supply of improved modern tools Integrated design and technical development workshops/ seminar/seminar/ symposium Training of artisans Source: Annual Report on 2015-16, Development commissioner of Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, New Delhi, 2016. Volume 9 Issue 1 2020 27 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 TABLE: 2. PHYSICAL PROGRESS MADE BY VARIOUS SCHEMES IN HANDICRAFTS SECTOR Sl. No Scheme 11th FYP Plan 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Targets Target Achievement Target Achievement Target Achievement 1. Baba Saheb Ambedkar 600 Cluster 120 147 120 125 120 Cluster