With an aim to improve financial health of workers working in handicraft sector Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav announced that the government would set up a handicraft cell to promote the sector and will introduce ‘Artisan Credit Card’ to financial help the artisan. The UP government will also constitute a new ‘UP Handicraft Promotion Policy 2014’.
‘The state government is committed to promote the handicrafts in the state and improve trhe financial health of the persons who are working in this sector. Cluster approach will be started for its development,’ Chief Minister said while reviewing the working in the Handicraft sector here on Sunday. “Uttar Pradesh is famous for handicraft.
There are different sectors in the state which have made a mark in this business. Moradabad, Bhadohi, Firozabad, Kannauj are some regions which are famous for handicraft business. The biggest challenge before this sector is of marketing. If we can provide a ready market and congenial development atmosphere the artisans of Uttar Pradesh can match anyone in the world,” he said.
He said that the Government would go for cluster approach where market, research and training would be available under one roof. This will also act as forum where the artisans and entrepreneurs can discuss their product and evaluate the demand at the national and the international level,” Yadav said. “To promote artisans government will initiate a process through which artisans would be trained and would be registered as Master craftsman. They would also be provided Artisan Credit Card of nationalized banks so that they could get loans as and when required,” he said and added that Government will also work to provide raw material to the artisans. The CM said that the state government will go for Geographical Information System (GIS) to helpout the promotion and marketing of the handicrafts of the state. Yadav announced that the state government will develop a UP handicraft portal and to publicise the handicrafts of the state, the government will prepare ‘ Coffee Table Book’ to promote UP habdicrafts worldwide.