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(GIST OF YOJANA) Perfecting Craftsmanship through Skilling [APRIL-2019]

(GIST OF YOJANA) Perfecting Craftsmanship through Skilling

[APRIL-2019]

Perfecting Craftsmanship through Skilling

Introduction

The pride of India lies in the treasures of India’s crafts and textiles. Indian weaving traditions and handicrafts have existed since time immemorial and have been a representation of the many unique sub- cultures within the country. India is the world’s second-largest producer of textiles and garments and ranks in top three in export of handicrafts.
Abundant availability of raw materials such as cotton, wool, silk, and jute as well as a skilled workforce have made the country a leading sourcing hub for the global textile market. Preservation of Indian weavers and craftsmen is the need of the hour, because the world is taking notice of our immensely unique heritage, and the time is ripe for artisans and craftsmen to reap the rewards.

Key highlights

To spearhead and address the immediate need of the textile industry, successful efforts were made in developing 72 Qualification Packs (QPs) out of which 71 have been cleared by National Skill Qualification Committee (NSQC). These 71 QPs constitute the requirements of about 80 per cent of the workforce engaged in textile industries, majority the textile mill sector TSSC is now developing standards for other workforce in critical segments such as wool, silk, jute, technical textiles and quality control.
When it comes to handicrafts and handlooms there is hardly any part of India which is not known far its specially crafted and women items. This is a vast and versatile industry. Be it the silk from Assam or the cotton from Bengal, the Pashmina from Kashmir or the Kanjeevaram from South India, they all have their own story to tell and have their place in the market. No matter how much technology advances, the skill in the hands of people has its own charm. There is a lot of tradition that has been passed on through generations which is no less than the magic of skilled hands.
Indian textile industry has strengths across the entire value chain from natural to man- made fiber to apparel
to home furnishings. The sector contributes about 27 per cent of the country’s foreign earnings due to export, 2 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP), and 1 3 per cent to the nation’s export.
Simultaneously, handicraft exports from India increased by 1.65 per cent year-on- year between April-November, 2018 to US$ 2.42 billion. Thus, the modernization, growth and all-round development and skilling of these industries has a direct bearing on the improvement in Indian economy.
The elevating employment opportunities in the textile and handicraft sectors and its allied industries, will make these sectors more prosperous. Further, these sectors are an important source to express art and skill in crafts and promote our culture by making crafts and textile items available locally.
Apart from the United States and Europe, which account for about two-thirds of India’s textile exports, China, the UAE, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh, Turkey, Pakistan, and Brazil are some of the major markets for these exports.

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Conclusion

With focused efforts the country is expected to lure significant global businesses to India.
It is envisaged that the Indian market will continue its upward trajectory in the years to come leveraging its inherent strengths and macroeconomic drivers.