Exclusive mall for handicrafts to come up in New Delhi

Varanasi, May 26 (UNI) Taking cue from the thriving shopping malls in the country, the centre has decided to set up an exclusive mall for handicrafts in New Delhi, to revive the traditional industry.

The mall coming up in Vasant Kunj area will revolutionise the retailing of handicrafts and also help expand its world market, Additional Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) Union Ministry of Textiles, Sandip Srivastava told newspersons here today.

Dr Srivastava said the handicrafts shopping mall is among a slew of initiatives to help revive the handicraft sector of the country, which occupies only 1.3 per cent in global handicraft market.

''The shopping mall will showcase handicraft delight from all Indian states. Besides, boosting retail trade, the mall will also serve as the meeting point for suppliers, agents and exporters.'' The ADC (Handicraft) said a multi-pronged strategy had been formulated to double the share of Indian handicrafts in global market, dominated by China, in four years.

Besides, a host of other efforts were being mulled to improve the marketing and grading of handicrafts, he added.

A series of fair 'Gandhi Shilpa Bazar' will be organised across the country on an annual basis to improve sale of handicrafts and hook the tourists, who form the major customer base. ''By hooking overseas backpackers, the ministry intends giving publicity to our handicrafts internationally,'' Dr Srivastava said.

Another prominent initiative for boosting the industry is the setting up of a Handicraft Design Institute at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi.

Dr Srivastava said a proposal has been received from the Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU in this regard.

Head, Painting Department, Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU, Ravindra Mishra told UNI a proposal worth Rs one crore had been submitted with the union ministry and a team would soon make presentation in this regard at New Delhi.

Dr Mishra said the main object of the proposed Institute was to create a foundary of designers, who will provide novel designs to the handicraft industry, lagging behind primarily due to staid designs.

A diploma course will be started for producing innovative designers in the field of Carpet, Banarasi Saree, Wall Hanging, Toy Making and other traditional arts.

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