June 6, 2010  

   The traditional Himachali handicrafts and handloom viz Woolen Shawls, Mufflers, Stoles, Caps, Jewellery, Carpets, Kangra Paintings, Chamba Rumals, Chamba Chappals, Jackets and Pullan are gaining popularity at international level, as these products are now available at a click of mouse. The Government of Himachal Pradesh took an innovative step by launching a website www.himcrafts.com, which showcases the famous traditional Himachali products for the global buyers. An array of designs, colours and sizes for both genders are available on the website so that the customer can place their order as per their choice.

 In order to give a boost to the sale of Handicrafts and Handloom products of the State, the H.P. State Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation has started e-shopping facility to make products available to the buyer. The interested buyer can select the product and place his order online and the products will be dispatched within three weeks. The website has a payment gateway to make online payments, check fake orders and confirm the payment before dispatch of material to the buyer.

The Corporation has initiated steps for promotion of e-shopping and has issued directions to all the emporia within and outside the state so as to make people aware of the concept and generate sales through e-shopping. The Corporation is also encouraging the concept of e- shopping by tapping export market.

The H.P. State Handicrafts & Handloom Corporation was set up in the year 1974 for the development of Handicrafts & Handloom sector and facilitate the upliftment of the weavers and artisans of the Pradesh. The main activities of the Corporation includes revival of extinct crafts, design development, skill generation, pre-loom, loom and post loom facilities to weavers and other artisans, production in workshops, marketing of handloom and handicrafts items through a chain of the emporia, exhibitions and expositions.

In order to facilitate the marketing of Handicrafts and Handloom, the Corporation is running 17 emporia/sales outlets through out the country. The 15 emporia within the State are located at Shimla, Solan, Bilaspur, Dharmshala, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Keylong, Manali, Mandi, Nahan, Reckong Peo, lEC (Toys), Palampur and Furniture Unit, Paonta Sahib. The two emporia outside the State are located at New Delhi and Bangalore. Besides the emporia, the Corporation is also running 15 production centres in the Pradesh, located at Bilaspur, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Kinnaur, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmour.

Presently, the Corporation is running 27 training centres for the up gradation of skills in various crafts. Normally, one year training is being provided in carpet weaving, shawl & durrie weaving, thangka paintings, woodwork, doll- making, metal craft, blanket weaving and hand-knitting etc. About 400 to 500 weavers/artisans are trained ever year. A stipend of Rs.950 per month is also given to the trainees. 

 Consignment trading has emerged as a major source of income for the Corporation. Bulk supplies to paramilitary forces, Railway and Air force through ACASH [Association of Corporations & Apex Societies of Handlooms], Govt. of India is also being made by procuring the goods from the co-operative societies of the State.

Three projects sanctioned by the Government of India and Ministry of Textiles are being implemented by the Corporation. Kullu Handloom Cluster with a financial outlay of Rs.2 Crores year will benefit 5000 weavers, Gohar (Mandi) Handloom Cluster with financial outlay of Rs 44.20 lacs envisages to benefit 350 weavers and Reckong Peo Handloom Cluster with financial outlay of Rs.55.15 lacs, will benefit 364 weavers.

To supplement the income of the Corporation, the spare space in the showrooms of the Corporation is being allotted to interested parties thereby increasing the total sales of the Corporation from 237 lacs to 405 lacs.

The Corporation has organized 30 exhibitions within and outside the state under Kullu Handloom Cluster Scheme and Gohar (Mandi) Handloom Cluster Scheme fully sponsored by the office of Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, Government of India, and Ministry of textiles. During the last two years, sales worth Rs. 127 lacs have been recorded in these exhibitions. These exhibitions have benefited number of Self Help Groups/Local weavers of Kullu and Mandi Districts.

The office of Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, Government of India, Ministry of Textiles, has sanctioned four exhibitions i.e. Varanasi, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Allahabad. The office of Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Government of India, Ministry of Textiles, for the first time, has sanctioned five Districts events i.e. Dharamsala, Solan, Shimla, Mandi and Sujanpur.