Gujarat Handloom corp sales up 40 per cent

The state-owned Gujarat State Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd (GSHHDC), has registered 40 per cent growth in its sales during 2006-07 over 2005-06 and the department is hopeful that this growth rate will be maintained for the next few years.

GSHHDC supports the handicrafts and handloom artisans through various schemes, procures the produce from the artisans and markets it under the brand name of Garvi Gurjari across the nation.

During 2004-05 the corporation had registered total sales of Rs 6.88 crore. In 2005-06 sales went up to Rs 7.50 crore. However, during 2006-07 the sales have taken a major jump. The coproration has registered total sales of Rs 10.60 crore during 2006-07.

"This can be termed as a major achievements of the corporation and all the credit goes to better quality of crafts provided by the artisans and the department's continuous efforts to boost up the sales. We are aiming to sustain this growth for the next few years," said B Venketashwaralu, assistant manager, marketing, Garvi Gurjari.

Non Residential Indians (NRIs) also have played a major role in boosting up the sales.

"One of the major reasons for this growth is increasing numbers of NRI buyers. A major share of our produce is being bought by the NRIs as they like to decorate their houses with Indian ethnic crafts to keep in touch with their motherland. The same trend is also catching up in the local people also. They are turning towards ethnic and modern fusion decor and traditional wears which is resulting into good business opportunity for us," Venketashwaralu said.

GSHHDC has six procurement centres in Gujarat where the artisans can sell their produce including Sankheda, Palanpur, Patan, Gandhinagar, Bhuj and Ahmedabad and 19 showrooms including two in Ahmedbabad, two in Kolkata, one each in Anand, Bangalore, Baroda, Bhuj, Bharuch, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mumbai, Rajpipla, Rajkot, Surat and Surendranagar.

GSHHDC provides training to the artisans to produce the products according to the market needs. For handloom, the weavers undergo training for 3 to 6 months and during this training period they are paid stipend of Rs750 per month. Handicrafts trainees are paid Rs 1,000 as stipend per month.

The raw materials required are provided by the corporation during training. Corporation also provides raw materials to the artisans and also the subsidy to buy or upgrade tools and machines.