New steps for handicraft sector on anvil: Vaghela

Chennai, June 20 (UNI) Union Textiles Minister Shanker Sinh Vaghela said here today his Ministry proposed to take up various new initiatives under the existing schemes of the handicraft sector for implementation under the XI Plan.

The initiatives would help modifiy and remodel the old schemes for implementation in the sector during Plan period, he said.

Speaking while chairing the meeting of the All India Handicrafts Board for the first time in South India, he said deliberations on promotional and procedural aspects of implementation of different developmental schemes of the sector have been done and some important decisions taken.

Mr Vaghela hoped that with the implementation of the different schemes in handicrafts sector during the XI Plan, the sector would progress rapidly and benefit a large number of artisans across the country in particular.

He distributed health cards, photo identity and artisan credit cards and also released cheques towards Children Education Assistance including death claims under the Janashree Bima Yojana of Life Insurance Corporation of India to the needy artisans.

Union Minister of State for Textiles E V K S Elangovan and Development Commissioner of Handicrafts Sanjay Agarwal were among those who participated in the meeting.

UNI