With a total outlay of INR 160 crore, the Ministry of Textiles has approved the continuance of the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS). The programme will last until March 2026. This initiative would give handcraft artists with infrastructure support, market access, design and technological up-gradation help, and so on.
CHCDS aspires to provide world-class infrastructure that meets the demands of local artisans and SMEs in order to increase production and export. In summary, the major goal of establishing these clusters is to help artisans and entrepreneurs establish world-class units with modern infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, proper training and human resource development inputs, as well as market linkages and product diversity.
Soft interventions will be offered through CHCDS, such as baseline surveys and activity mapping, skill training, improved toolkits, marketing events, seminars, publicity, design workshops, capacity building, and so on. Hard interventions such as Common Facility Centers, Emporiums, Raw Material Banks, Trade Facilitation Centers, Common Production Centers, and Design and Resource Centers will be approved.
The integrated projects will be developed by Central/State Handicrafts Corporations/Autonomous, Body-Council-Institute/Registered Co-operatives/Artisan Producer Companies/Registered SPVs with good experience in the handicrafts sector in accordance with the requirements and the DPR prepared for the purpose.
The focus will be on bringing together dispersed artisans, expanding their small-scale businesses, and connecting them to SMEs in the handicrafts industry to ensure economies of scale. Under this strategy, mega handicraft clusters with more than 10,000 artisans would be chosen for general growth.