Mysore emerges attractive home for artisans

Mysore has emerged as an attractive centre for handicraft artisans to exhibit and sell their unique items. This is chiefly because of the traditional art lovers in this city, which is also popular for unique handicraft products.

The Handicrafts Artisans? Welfare Association of Warangal in Andhra Pradesh did a business of Rs 7 lakh when it held a 'Crafts Mela' in Mysore last time. Encouraged by this response, the association is holding an exhibition-cum-sale of its world famous products for the second time. It hopes to make a similar turnover this time also.

Sponsored by the development commissioner (handicrafts), government of India, the exhibits in the crafts mela will comprise of artistic textiles, jute products, hand woven and printed durries, world famous lace, artistic leather, toys, dolls, terracotta and metal products.

Association secretary Syed Fazil Ali told Business Standard that 45 artisans will be selling their products directly to art lovers in the mela to be inaugurated on November 15 by Mysore's mayor Bharathi.

A few of them will be giving live demonstration in selected crafts pursued by the self-help groups.

Having 150 members and self-help groups in its rolls, the association does Rs 70 lakh business per annum, covering entire Andhra and other states. After Mysore, it has planned melas in Kambham and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.

This will be followed by a design development workshop in leather and brass in Warangal and Ansaripet. Around 60 members will be taking part in the workshop and develop new artistic designs.

Mysore's Handicrafts Marketing & Service Extension Centre assistant director S C Devaramani said though artisans produce unique and excellent artefacts all over, marketing is their main problem. The ministry provides 75 per cent assistance for holding such crafts melas, supports advertisement and catalogue preparation. It also creates export opportunities.

India is exporting Rs 1,500 crore handicraft items, but South India's contribution is not much. Hence, efforts are on to support artisans and craft producing associations to take up to export in a big way.

This support, for example, has created a one-place centre for all exportable craft items in Moradabad, Andhra Pradesh. As a result, sheet metal work and Kalankari art work are growing very fast in this area. They are gaining international reputation besides market, Devaramani said.

The association has implemented the Babasaheb Ambedkar Hastashilpa Vikas Yojana of the government of India for all-round development of craft clusters in dhogra casting, artistic leather, sheet metal and nirmal painting and taken up skill upgradation, design and technical development programmes, along with ensuring group insurance for the artisans.