The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Western Regional Office (WRO), Mumbai, organised a One-Day Regional Level Workshop for empanelled NGOs and Government Organisations of the Western Region at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. The workshop focused on strengthening implementation, resolving administrative bottlenecks and improving coordination among implementing agencies, government organisations and artisans.
The workshop was inaugurated in the presence of Smt. Prerna Deshbhratar, IAS, Managing Director, MSSIDC, as Chief Guest, along with Shri Deepak Khandekar, Managing Director, Mahatex; Shri Deeptansu Haldar, Regional Director, WRO Mumbai; Shri Chandrashekhar Singh, Senior Assistant Director (Handicrafts); and Shri Kapil Sahu, Assistant Director (Handicrafts).
Addressing the participants, Smt. Deshbhratar appreciated the initiative and emphasised stronger coordination for effective implementation of handicrafts development programmes. Key discussions covered settlement of pending Utilisation Certificates, programme closure, NGO Darpan compliance, empanelment, MIS Portal, e-Aadhaar, digital platforms, NHDP schemes, market surveys, prototype development, documentation and artisan databases. Financial literacy, ZBSA accounts, PFMS-based payments and timely submission of UCs were also highlighted.
Technical sessions focused on packaging, brand promotion and design intervention, stressing contemporary presentation while preserving traditional identity and craftsmanship.
A total of 82 participants attended the One-Day Regional Level Workshop, including representatives of empanelled NGOs and various State Government Corporations/Organisations from across the Western Region. The workshop provided an important platform for the participating organisations to share their practical experiences, challenges and suggestions concerning the implementation of handicrafts programmes.
During the discussions, the participating organisations highlighted various difficulties faced by them from time to time, particularly in processing documentation, submission of claims, payment disbursement to artisans, operation of the MIS portal and implementation of the Digital Artisan Identity Card system. They requested the Competent Authority to make the digital platforms more user-friendly and establish an appropriate help-desk/support cell under the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) to provide timely assistance whenever implementing agencies encounter technical or procedural difficulties.
The participants further requested that programmes may be designed and implemented in a manner that provides effective and tangible financial benefits to artisans, particularly in view of the economic hardships being faced by many artisans. They emphasised that timely engagement, regular work opportunities, market access and appropriate financial support are essential for sustaining traditional crafts and ensuring the livelihood security of artisans.
The underlying message emerging from the workshop was simple yet significant: “If artisans get sustained engagement, artisans will prosper; if artisans prosper, our crafts will flourish; and when our crafts flourish, the larger objective of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) towards preservation and promotion of India’s rich craft heritage will be fulfilled.”
The One-Day Regional Level Workshop concluded successfully with a collective expectation that the participating organisations would make concerted efforts towards the overall development and welfare of artisans. The social organisations, NGOs and implementing agencies were encouraged to devote themselves towards the preservation of India’s rich handicraft heritage and extend their cooperation to the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) in strengthening the handicrafts sector.
The participants were also encouraged to work towards the economic empowerment of artisans by creating suitable marketing platforms, facilitating market linkages, promoting exhibitions and encouraging wider visibility of handcrafted products. India possesses an enormous pool of skilled artisans capable of producing distinctive and high-quality handcrafted products that have considerable potential in the present market.
The workshop thus served not merely as a platform for discussing procedural and implementation-related issues, but also as an opportunity to reaffirm a shared commitment towards making handicrafts a sustainable source of livelihood, dignity and economic opportunity for artisans. With coordinated efforts by the Government, State-level organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders, the traditional skills of artisans can be connected with contemporary markets while preserving the cultural identity and heritage embedded in India’s handicrafts.
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