AndhraNews.Net - Two Lakh Artisans to be provided Artisan Credit Card this year

New Delhi: August 19, 2003

About two lakh artisans are to be provided Artisans Credit Card (ACC) this year. The scheme announced by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech will ensure timely and adequate availability of working capital. Under this scheme individual artisans will get a loan of Rs.25,000 and a group of artisans under the Self Help Group will be provided Rs.2,00,000 at nine percent interest. This was disclosed by the Textiles Minister Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain while addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry here today.

He said, the Textiles Ministry has prepared a special package for the development of textiles sector in Jammu and Kashmir at an estimated cost of Rs.70 crore. The special package was formulated after the Prime Minster's visit to Jammu and Kashmir in May this year when he announced a comprehensive package covering various aspects with a thrust on generation of new employment. The special package for J&K aims at integrated development of export promotion of carpet, handicrafts and strengthening their infrastructure support. A Carpet Training Institute will be set up in the state to train carpet weavers. Government will also develop and promote the brand image of Kashmir carpets.

The Minister said that it has been decided to cover two lakh artisans under the Bima Yojana for handicraft artisans during the 10th Plan period. He said, insurance cover will be provided by the Life Insurance Corporation under the 'Janshree Bima Yojana' and add-on Group Insurance coverage for death. Under the scheme one crore rupees has been provided during the current year and is targeted to cover 67,000 artisans. As a measure of skill upgradation, a new project package called 'Special Handicrafts Training Programme' has been put together with a view to train 10,000 artisans/weavers engaged in Handicrafts and carpet sector. The main objective of the programme is to upgrade the skill of existing as well as new crafts persons/carpet weavers, enhance employment opportunities, transfer skill of Master Crafts Persons to new trainees and to increase production base of crafts having high market demand. The Minister said, it has been decided to implement the scheme in a project mode where design and marketing intervention would also be extended to ensure better marketability of the products.

Shri Shahnawaz Hussain said, facilitation of export of Indian handicrafts will be a thrust area. In order to give fillip to export promotion of cottage sector including handicrafts, carpet, jute etc., India Exposition Mart is being set up at Greater NOIDA. The mart will serve as a permanent contact point for showcasing the products. It will have 900 marts, exhibition halls, conference facilities, banks and various other services under one roof.

The Minister said, efforts are being made to organise the handicraft sector in such a way that it is ready to face the challenges of the open market in post WTO era and utilise the opportunities available to make our products more competitive in global market. He said, the endeavour is also to simultaneously generate more employment opportunities while preserving the rich cultural and craft heritage of India.

During the meeting there were suggestions that efforts should be made to ensure proper utilisation of funds given to artisans under the Credit Card Scheme. It was also suggested to explore the possibility of opening a cell in India's diplomatic missions abroad to showcase handicrafts in order to popularise them. It was also suggested that a mechanism to gather market intelligence on carpet may be thought of to maintain competitiveness and to develop products for the changing global consumer taste.

Press Release by: PIB/DNM/SAK:19082003

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