The Government of India is implementing several schemes for promotion and development and upliftment of handicrafts in the country, Minister of Textiles Mr. Anand Sharma said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of the Parliament.
Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY), Design and Technology Upgradation (DTU), Marketing Support and Services (MSS), Human Resource Development (HRD), Research and Development (R&D), and Handicrafts Artisans Comprehensive Welfare Scheme are presently being implemented by the Government, the Minister said.
The Government has released a total of Rs. 1.708 billion under the various schemes for promotion of handicrafts during 2011-12.
A sum of Rs. 486.708 million was released under AHVY, followed by Rs. 456.193 million for MSS, Rs. 347.2 million for Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, Rs. 189.724 million for DTU, Rs. 169.572 million for HRD, and Rs. 58.913 million for R&D by the Government during last fiscal year.
India’s handicraft exports during April 2012-January 2013 stood at Rs. 125.564 billion, the Minister said.
India’s handicraft exports have grown from Rs. 87.189 billion in 2009-10, to Rs. 105.339 billion in 2010-11, and to Rs. 129.752 billion in 2011-12, according to the figures of Export Promotion Council for Handicraft (EPCH).
