Crafts Council takes artisans to market

With traditional Indian crafts industry languishing in need of support, Crafts Council of India (CCI) is trying to revive the industry by helping the craftsmen market the products through retail chains and exhibitions.

The organistion recently opened its first retail outlet in Delhi, namely, Kamala, and is planning two more, one each in Hyderabad and Chennai, by the end of this year.

The huge demand of rural crafts in cities can be estimated by the huge success of the first outlet of the organistion in Delhi, which at present has have a monthly turnover of close to Rs 10 lakh, with a profit margin of 20 per cent in each product, explains Manjari Nirula, president, Delhi Crafts Corporation.

According to Kasturi Gupta-Menon, president, CCI, the crafts sector is one of the most decentralised and unorganised sectors of the country, without any strong association to put forth its demands.

"A number of crafts' forms have disappeared due to lack of attention. We do not believe that crafts is a industry in India. For us, industry is only that, which can produce small cars," said Gupta-Menon.

Product-diversification and proper marketing were needed to support rural craftsmen, she said.

CCI is organising a crafts' fair, which will showcase art forms of all the 14 councils of the organistion in different states, at the Academy of Fine Arts till February 14, 2008.