Vaghela inaugurates National Handicraft Design Gallery

New Delhi, Jul 21 (UNI) The Government today said it has given special emphasis on creating and strengthening infrastructure for the handicraft sector in the 11th Five Year Plan Schemes and has also taken a number of initiatives for artisans.

Inaugurating the National Handicraft Design Gallery here, Minister of Textiles Shankersinh Vaghela said our artisans can now have access to newer technologies, processes, markets, IT tools and institutions in order to improve their productivity and lead a better quality of life.

He also released a book ''Crafts of India - Handmade in India- An Encyclopedia of Handicrafts'' on the occasion.

Mr Vaghela said, in addition to infrastructure development, the welfare of artisans is the major area of focus in the schemes for the handicrafts sector.

He said Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana has been introduced during the 11th Plan, under which about nine lakh artisans have been covered and hoped that about 40 lakh artisans will be covered by the end of the 11th Plan.

The Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan, set up in 2005, was the first step in creating infrastructure for the handicrafts sector.

The National Handicrafts Design Gallery is part of the Bhawan. About 5000 sq ft area is especially dedicated to showcasing the Master Creations of National award winning artisans and Shilp Gurus, representing almost every craft practiced in different parts of the country.

''Crafts of India - Handmade in India'', a colourful compilation is a documentation of a diverse range of crafts of the country. It depicts the nuances of the craft making, the procedures, the materials and gives a deep insight into the rich cultural and traditional heritage of the country.

The publication has a value for art lovers and historians on one hand and to academicians, researchers and buyers of craft on the other hand. A useful resource created by the initiatives of the Ministry of Textiles and documented by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

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