New Delhi: India is performing exceedingly well in the textiles and handicrafts sector at the global level, outstripping both Germany and Italy, in terms of export revenue turnarounds, said Union Textiles Secretary Zohra Chatterjee.
Talking to news agency on the sidelines of a 11-day-long "Craft Heritage" exhibition that was launched at the Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India here on Tuesday evening.
Mrs. Chatterjee said: "We (India) have (with 40 billion dollars in textile exports) moved up to second position from fourth, which is a matter of pride for our country. We have outstripped Germany and Italy in attaining that position."
"Handicrafts, specially, have done exceedingly well. There is been a 22 percent growth, and I am confident that in the coming years, this growth would continue, because we achieved this in the most difficult times, when other manufacturing sectors were not doing so well," she added.
"Textiles have tremendous potential, and we have everything going for us to improve our exports," Mrs Chatterjee said further.
Speaking about the objectives behind holding an exhibition of this nature, Anjali Rai, Chairperson of the CCICL, said: "Our aim is to promote handicrafts and handlooms from our country in which we are very rich. We have a rich heritage, and through such exhibitions, we promote it.
This particular exhibition is meant to promote the colorful handicrafts of Rajasthan and other states also."
"In the whole cottage emporium, we have everything from all states. All states are being represented in this exhibition, but this year, we have specially highlighted Rajasthan`s handicrafts," Rai added.
"From all the corners of Rajasthan, we have taken pieces, but you can see a variety from different places. And, we have a beautiful collection," Rai said.
Pramod Nagpal, Managing Director, CCICL, told that, "Cottage (CCICL) from time to time keeps on organizing theme-based exhibitions. In these exhibitions, new designs and new products are launched.
They are test marketed and the effort of cottage is that the craftsmen are made aware of new market trends while making their products."
"This year, we have organised 50 such theme-based exhibitions, which will be held across CCIC emporia`s in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.
This is the first exhibition in this direction and we are trying to promote excellence in craft and taking them to wider audience across the country," he added.
Commenting specifically on the Delhi exhibition, Mr. Nagpal said: "Rajasthan is the land of colors and Indians like bright colors. In this season, we don`t have too many foreign tourists here in the country.
These are the new products made by the craftsmen especially for cottage. So, we are bringing this to our patrons and customers."
"As far as connoisseurs are concerned, they can make out the distinction. We have been saying that there is a renaissance as far as Indian crafts are concerned. The future of Indian crafts is definitely bright," he stated.
Asked for his comment on reports of craftsmen not getting a fair deal for the work they were putting in to promote India`s ancient crafts and culture, Mr. Nagpal said this was not true as far as CCICL is concerned.
"Cottage is a fair pay organization. The maximum part of the earnings i.e. sale proceeds is passed on to the artisans and weavers.
Cottage is directly purchasing products from the craftsmens and there are no middlemen involved here. A large percentage is paid directly to the weavers and craftsmen, he said."
The CCICL retails authentic Indian handicrafts and handlooms through its showrooms in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.
The products are sourced from weavers, master weavers, artisans, craftpersons and master craftsmen, national awardees, shilp gurus and clusters.
The Craft Heritage Exhibition was to be inaugurated by Minister of State for Textiles Santosh Kumar Gangwar, but he could not be present as he attending proceedings in parliament.
This year`s collection consists of a fine range of handcrafted furniture, cabinets, boxes and traditional paintings from Rajasthan.
It includes products made of Homelinen and Blue Pottery from Jaipur, stone pottery from Khurja, bronze artefacts from Swami Malai in tamil Nadu and statues executed by skilled master craftpersons, national awardees and artisans working for the sector.
Additional General Manager of CCICL, Kalyanasundaram Iyer, described the exhibition as one of the ways to showcase India`s culture and traditional handiworks.
He said that such events are held for all segments of society, and added that the price range of products was suitable for all pockets.
He said that the CCICL domestic sales turnover for 2013-14 was Rs.82 crores, while the projected turnover for 2014-15 is Rs.93 crores.
On customer footfalls, he said that during the summers, the CCICL gets between 600 to 800 visitors/ customers per day, while in the winter months, it was in excess of 2000 visitors/customers per day.
