(GIST OF YOJANA) Contributing to Economic Growth [APRIL-2019]

(GIST OF YOJANA) Contributing to Economic Growth

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Textiles and handicrafts have been a key source of employment. As per the latest separated Pradesh them closer and that is available Annual Survey of Industries data, their association with project of linking number of persons employed in the ‘Textiles with the Tourism.’ These are the organised Textile and Wearing Apparel first two centres chosen for a project aiming to give textiles and handicrafts a Sector is around 26,48,238 in 2015-16 and 26,94,280 in 2016-17. Further, the new dimension.
Tirupati does not need an introduction but Raghurajpur does. This craft village is located near the temple city of Puri in Odisha and famous for its pattachitra, palm leaf art, traditional stone carving and idol making with papier-mache. It has kept its age-old craft traditions alive. It is connected through Bhubaneswar Puri national highway.
It is home to just 140 families, and perhaps India’s only village where every household is involved in producing handicrafts. It has a crafts library, an interpretation centre, an amphitheatre and guest houses. The village is hosting not just Indians but foreigners too and earning more. Tourism has given a new identity to this village and the best part is that nearby villages have also benefitted from this identity.

This initiative has helped, even in a limited way, the traditional sector to get a face lift. Also, it is helping this sector to contribute more to the economic growth. No doubt, the textile sector has been one of the oldest industries in India currently estimated at around USS 1 50 billion and expected to reach USS 250 billion soon. It contributed seven per cent of the industry output (m value terms). 15 per cent in export earnings and over two per cent in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of India in 2017-1 K. Overall textile exports during flscal year 2017-18 stood at US $39.2 billion. handloom sector provides direct and indirect employment to 43 lakh weavers and allied workers. There are 68.86 lakh handicraft artisans. The handloom and handicrafts sector together provide about 111 lakh employment both in the organized and unorganized sector.

It is mainly an un-organised and diversified sector with estimated 70 lakh artisans practicing 32 broad crafts categories throughout the country. To organize and standardize the Indian handicrafts, approximately 22.85 lakhs artisans have been trained under ‘Pahchan’ initiatives. Moreover 35 crafts have been identified as endangered crafts and 92 crafts have been registered under Geographical Indication Act.
For standardization of carpets, carpet rating scheme has been formulated, but handicraft items are mainly hand made. The beauty of handicrafts lies in the artistic hands of the artisans and each handicraft product is different from the other even if it is made by the same artisan using the same raw material. In an effort to establish authenticity of handmade products there is a scheme of handicraft mark.
There is a direct marketing portal for handicrafts artisans to provide direct market access facility to genuine handicrafts artisans including tribal artisans working in the far-flung areas. Any handicraft artisan registered under ‘Pachchan’ can utilize this portal for marketing their products. Till date 302 number of artisans have been registered in the portal.