Lok Sabha Question No. 124 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Handicrafts of Tribal Communities
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SANJAY(KAKA) RAMCHANDRA PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*124

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## HANDICRAFTS OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES

## †*124. SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- (a)     whether the Government proposes to formulate a project for popularizing the handicrafts of various  communities  in  the  tribal  areas  in  the  domestic  and  global  markets  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b)      whether the Government also proposes to consult the members of various communities in the tribal areas for the purpose and if so, the details thereof;and
- (c)      whether collaboration with any agency for the said purpose is likely to take place and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JUAL ORAM)

(a) to (c):     A Statement is laid down on the Table of the House

****

## Statement referred  to  in  parts  (a)  to  (c)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Starred  Question  No.  †*124  for 05.03.2018  regarding 'Handicrafts of Tribal Communities'.

- (a) Yes, Madam.  The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) which is a  cooperative  society  registered  under  the  Multi-State  Cooperative  Societies Act and is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has been promoting marketing  of  tribal  products  which  have  created  outreach  effect  within  the  country  and  abroad. These efforts include popularising tribal handicrafts.

TRIFED markets tribal products through its 37 own outlets, 34 outlets on consignment basis and 21 franchisee outlets and exhibitions in the country. Besides, TRIFED has also been marketing various tribal products through e-commerce portal like Amazon.com, Flipkart.com, Paytm, Snapdeal.com, GeM, eshop.tribesindia.com to reach out to the global masses. Placing the tribal handicrafts on such portals also helps popularize them.

Tribal handicrafts are showcased in Tribal carnivals, various melas, festivals and exhibitions in the country and abroad mainly through TRIFED's participation with a view to popularize and enhance their sales.

Further,  Ministry  of  Textiles,Office  of  the  Development  Commissioner  (Handicrafts)has  been implementing  various  schemes  for  promotion  and  development  of  handicraft  in  the  country including tribal areas under National Handicraft Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive  Handicrafts  Cluster  DevelopmentScheme  (CHCDS).  The NHDP has  following components.

1. DastkarShasktikaran under Ambedkar HastshilpVikas Yojana (AHVY).
2. Design & Technology Upgradation (DTU)
3. Human Resources Development (HRD)
4. Direct Benefit to Artisan (DBT).
5. Infrastructure and Technology Support (ITS)
6. Research and Development (R&D)
7. Marketing Support and Services (MSS).

## Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster DevelopmentScheme (CHCDS) has following components:

1. Mega Cluster (MC).
2. Special Projects under Integrated Development and Promotion of Handicraft (IDPH).
3. (b) The  Ministry  extends  financial  assistance  to  Tribal  Cooperative  Marketing  Development Federation  of  India  Ltd.  (TRIFED)  for  organizing  Tribal  Artisan  Mela(TAM),  Aadishilp  and Aadichitra  to  showcase  various  tribal  art  forms  at  National  Level.  Besides  this,  the  Ministry  of Tribal Affairs extends financial assistance to Tribal Research Institutes(TRIs) set up by the State Governments/Union Territories with the aim to preserve and promote Tribal culture, heritage, arts and crafts through Research and Documentation. Under the scheme, funds are provided to TRIs to organize 'Exchange visits' for the Tribal to visit other parts of the State/Country with the objective of  getting  wider  perspective  of  culture  and  traditions.    In  addition,  TRIs  also  organize  'Tribal Festivals' for the preservation, promotion and dissemination of tribal art and culture and traditional

sports events.  Interaction in such events provides informal consultation with the concerned tribals from various communities.

(c) The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), in order to give exposure to artisans  to  wider  domestic  market,  marketing  events  like  Gandhi  Shilp  Bazar,  Craft  Bazar, Exhibitions, Hiring of Stalls are being organizedwhere as International fairs and exhibitions abroad, folk  craft  festivals,  Road  shows,  stand  alone  shows  and  cultural  exchange  programmes  are  being organised to provide International market to all artisans of the country including tribal artisans.

TRIFED  has  signed  a  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  with  National  Institute  of  Fashion Technology  (NIFT)to  improve  the  marketability  of  its  products  and  establish  'Tribes  India'  as  a brand.    The  partnership  envisages  development  of  product  range  of  tribal  products  at  State-levels; development  of  new  design  products  in  identified  categories  of  tribal  products,  development  of training modules for skill upgradation in areasof product development, packaging, display etc.

To reap greater benefits for the tribal artisans and expand their retail trade all over the country and the world, TRIFED hasdeveloped e-commerce portal www.tribesindia.com for sale of all its hand crafted products.

To further popularize tribal products and amplify their sales, TRIFED has made arrangements with other online marketing giants like Snapdeal, Amazon, Paytm, Flipkart and GeM for all its products to reach out to the masses.

Ensuring genuine and authentic tribal products for artefacts lovers through the online portals while promoting Tribes India as a brand creates lasting loyalty for tribal products.

Number  of  products  presently  available  on  various  e-commerce  portals  as  on  22.02.2018  are tabulated below:

| Sl. No.   | Portal       |   No. of products uploaded and live |
|-----------|--------------|-------------------------------------|
| 1         | Amazon       |                                1113 |
| 2         | Paytm        |                                 785 |
| 3         | Snapdeal     |                                 759 |
| 4         | Flipkart     |                                 705 |
| 5         | GeM          |                                 939 |
| 6         | Tribes India |                                 315 |
|           | Total        |                                4616 |

****