UPID to launch mobile app for weavers to market products

To help weavers in the state to market their products and come up with new designs, the Uttar Pradesh Institute of Design (UPID) will launch a mobile application later this week.

The app will be launched during a two-day event, beginning Friday, in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The mobile app, which will be known as UPID app, will have a host of features to help artisans in general, and weavers in particular.

"The application will provide better market linkages for various products to weavers, and also give them new and fresh designs, which they can incorporate in their art work," UPID chairperson Kshipra Shukla told PTI.

Notifications about about new designs will be sent through e-mail, she said.

"Usually, it has been observed that due to non-availability of new designs, artisans and weavers use old and obsolete designs in their products. This, subsequently, leads to drop in sales, and results in drop in motivation and enthusiasm of artisans.

"Through design intervention, we will provide new and fresh designs, which will certainly help artisans to come up with novel designs on their handicrafts, and at the same increase their confidence level," the chairperson said.

Shukla said once the mobile app is launched, efforts will also be made to send alerts to artisans about upcoming Shilp Melas (craft fairs) in the state.

"This will help them to prepare themselves better for the occasion. And with new designs, I am sure that the products will become more attractive and sales will also go up," she said.

Observing that artisans tend to leave their traditional art and craft, if income declines from trade, Shukla said, "The app with design development and innovative designs will help them... augment their income, enhance export potential and also help increase their shrinking markets."