Himachal Pradesh is famous for its handicrafts and handloom. The exquisite handicrafts of the state are ex
The Corporation is running 17 emporia/sales outlets throughout the country. The 15 emporia within the State are located at Shimla, Solan, Bilaspur, Dharamshala, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Keylong, Manali, Mandi, Nahan, Reckong Peo, IEC Toys, Palampur and furniture unit, Paonta Sahib, while two emporia outside the State located at New Delhi and Banglore. The emporia of the Corporation have gone a long way in popularizing the handicrafts and handloom of the State.
The Corporation has 15 Production Centers in the State which provides pre-loom, loom and post loom facilities to the poor weavers and artisans of the State. The production is undertaken by them at their and also carried out from weavers. The training courses are also being run by the Corporation through 27 training centers for the up gradation of skills in various crafts. About 400 to 500 weavers and artisans are being trained every year mainly in the crafts of carpet weaving, shawl and durrie weaving, thanka paintings, wood work, dolls making, metal craft, blanket weaving and hand knitting etc. The trainees are also given stipend for training.
The network of sales outlets of the Corporation within and outside the State are its strength. In order to fully utilize the infrastructure, the Corporation resorts to procurement activities from the artisans and weavers, small scale units and dealers within and outside the State. It is also making bulk supplies to paramilitary forces, railway and air force through
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Government of India by procuring the goods from the co-operative societies of the States.
State Handicraft & Handloom Corporation is implementing three major projects sanctioned by the Government of India. Kullu Handloom Cluster will benefit 5000 weavers. Another project is Gohar (Mandi) Handloom cluster which will benefit 350 weavers. The third is Reckong Peo Handloom cluster under which 364 weavers will be benefited. In addition, Reckong Peo and Rampur Handloom Clusters are being developed under first phase for benefit of about 600 weavers. Two more clusters have been sanctioned during year 2011-12 for Tissa in Chama district and Janjehli in Mandi district which benefit more than 1000 artisans of these areas. Two skill upgradation centers have also been sanctioned for Chamba district for Chamba crafts including Chamba Rumal.
The Corporation has organized 30 exhibitions throughout the country under Kullu Handloom Cluster Scheme and Gohar (Mandi) Handloom Cluster Scheme and sales worth Rs. 82 lakh was made though these exhibitions whereas last year sales were only Rs. 45 lakh.
With a view to boost up the sales of the Corporation, e-shopping facility has also been launched and buyers can purchase different Himachali products.
Issued by:
Director,
Information & Public Relations,
Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-2
