Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Dec 06, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Dec 06, 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
Variety
-
Arts & Crafts AP crafts fair on at Kochi Our Bureau
A scene from the Lepakshi exhibition at Kochi.
KOCHI, Dec. 5 LEPAKSHI Exhibition-cum-sale, a 13-day fair organised by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd, has commenced in the city with a view to paying exclusive attention for the promotion, development and marketing of the State's artistic handicrafts. The corporation organises such exhibitions in various prominent places all over the country and some of the programmes are assisted by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), New Delhi. As many as 500 craftspersons have benefited from these exhibitions every year, official sources said. The sales turnover, which was Rs 78 lakh in 1981-82, had gone up to Rs 26.55 crore in 2001-02. The strategy is to sell quality products and aiming at less margins for high volume of sales for viable functioning of the organisation. The corporation markets the products of over 1,50,000 artisans through its network of 15 sales emporia. It had set up procurement centres at craft concentrated pockets such as Tirupati, Vijayawada, Vizag and Hyderabad where the production of the artisans is procured regularly at a fair price after examining the quality skill and price so that the customer gets a fairly competitive price. The corporation thus strives to function as a bridge between the craftspersons and the customer and attempts to avoid unfair trade practice by middlemen. It also organises training programmes in selected crafts where production is not commensurate to demand and also in cases where the craft is less-known and languishing for want of adequate patronage and awareness. So far, it has organised 40 training programmes with the assistance from the State Government and the Centre. Over 1,000 persons have benefited from these programmes. Besides, the organisation has implemented various welfare schemes such as old age pension, group insurance, house-cum-work sheds, awards for the craftspersons with distinction in their skills at state level and national level every year. Craft development centres have been set up in selected craft concentrated pockets where the craftspersons are with provided tools and equipment, raw material and all other infrastructure under a common roof. They also get necessary technical and design assistance.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | Home |
Copyright © 2002, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|