Book English 2011.p65 - Ministry of Textiles

annual report 2010-11CHAPTER XIHANDICRAFTSThe Union Minister for Textiles, Thirui Dayanidhi Maran presenting the Shilp Guru Award 2007to Smt. Maha Sundari Devi from Bihar for Madhubani Painting, at the presentation ceremony ofthe National Awards 2007-2008 for Master Crafts persons & Weavers and Shilp Guru Awards 2007& 2008 for Master Crafts persons, in New Delhi on November 24, 2010. The Minister of State forTextiles, Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi and the Secretary (Textiles) Smt. Rita Menon are also seen.The Handicrafts Sector plays asignificant & important role in thecountry's economy. It providesemployment to a vast segment of craftpersons in rural & semi urban areas andgenerates substantial foreign exchangefor the country, while preserving its culturalheritage. Handicrafts have great potential,as they hold the key for sustaining notonly the existing set of millions of artisansspread over length and breadth of thecountry, but also for the increasingly largenumber of new entrants in the craftsactivity. Presently, handicrafts contributesubstantially to employment generationand exports. The Handicraft sector has,however, suffered due to its beingunorganized, with the additional constraintsof lack of education, low capital, poorexposure to new technologies, absenceof market intelligence, and a poorinstitutional framework. In spite of these155