A Preliminary Review of Gujarat’s Handicraft Sector with Special Focus on State Government’s Initiative to Promote the Sector

Abstract

Handicraft sector world over is mostly decentralized and unorganized sector, largely dominated by local artisans. The state of Gujarat in India has also been blessed with a prosperous and vibrant tradition of handicrafts, however the sector has been predominantly home-based or MSME businesses which is again substantially decentralized and unorganized in tune with worldwide scenario in the industry. Until recent past, handicraft units in Gujarat were highly scattered and there was absence of common integrated structure and mechanism to document and map artisans and their art in different parts of Gujarat.

Craft of Gujarat is Gujarat Government’s initiative to link craftsmen across the state. It is a common and integrated web portal essentially designed to connect rural craftsmen and to consumers across the globe. It is the first ever initiative in entire nation, which was envisaged by INDEXT-C, which comes under Cottage and Rural Industries sector- Industries and Mines Department, Government of Gujarat. The craft of Gujarat is a unique platform which gives opportunities to all the artisans of Gujarat to display their talent to a huge segment of potential customers and art connoisseurs around the world. Craft of Gujarat is a governmental entrepreneurship effort to revive the handicraft sector cluster and grouping of craftsmen through information technology interface. How far it would boost the exports of handicrafts is still an unanswered question. This Research Paper attempts to trace the roots of art and handicraft sector of Gujarat along with the details of State Government’s Initiative to promote the sector so that the entrepreneurs in this sector get a global market to showcase their traditional art with enhanced business opportunities.