“We have the National Institutes of Design, we have the National Institutes of Fashion Technology. Some of it will definitely be of interest to them. To create that synergy between the institutions is very important. I have been of this view that it should be done in a structured format so that it empowers our people,” said the Minister. The Minister also launched a Catalogue of Handicrafts & Handlooms to facilitate the corporate world for sustainable sourcing from the artisans. More than 400 heads of Corporate and Industrial Houses attended this Conclave.

The Hastkala Conclave had basically three important components viz.

• Display-cum-Exhibition of Handicrafts and Handloom by master craftpersons, weavers and producers. The exhibition had an ethnic display of growth of North-East, Jammu & Kashmir and mega clusters in addition to other handicrafts and handloom items.

• Demonstration by master craftpersons and weavers.

• Seminars on market promotion of Indian handicrafts and handloom in organized retail sector.

The handicrafts and handloom sector plays a very important role in the economic and social life of the country. The sectors provide direct employment to more than 11 million artisans, craftpersons and weavers etc. mainly belonging to economically and socially weaker sections of the society in the interior of the country. Out of the estimated production of Rs. 32,000 crore of handicrafts [including carpet], around Rs. 17,000 crores is being exported. In the handloom sector, cloth of more than 6930 million sq mts. is being produced. The export of handloom cloth was Rs. 2503.23 crore in 2011-12 and the production was Rs. 36,000 crore.

The Hastkala Conclave was organised by the Ministry of Textiles with the objective of developing awareness about the versatility of craftsmanship of Indian hand crafted goods and weaves amongst the corporate and industrial sector of India and forge a partnership with corporate and industrial sector for preservation and promotion of handicraft and handloom. The Ministry of Textiles in its endeavours to preserve, protect and promote India’s cultural heritage had embarked upon this maiden through the Offices of Development Commissioner [Handicrafts] & [Handlooms] event to link the lowest level of the handicrafts and handloom Sector viz. artisans, craftspersons and weavers to the highest level of economy viz. corporate, consumers and MNCs.