An Economic Study of Handicraft Sector of Varanasi

Abstract

Handicraft sector is a traditional sector that is found everywhere across the country. newlineHandicrafts are a valuable and indeed a proud heritage of India. Indian handicrafts are as newlinevaried as the people of the country. It is the second-largest source of employment after newlineagriculture. In handicrafts, the cost per unit of production is very low. Hence the best course newlineof action for an under developed country with sufficient raw materials and abundant man newlinepower but with scarce capital is to put the available capital in to immediate production, newlineinstead of waiting for huge capital investment. Small productive units in handicrafts can be newlinestarted and functioned in short periods. Simple crafts are easy to learn. Presently, handicrafts newlinecontribute substantially to employment generation and exports as per census of Handicrafts newlineconducted in the 11th Plan Total artisans were 68.86 Lakh in which 38.61 Lakh female and newline30.25 lakh male were included practicing more than 500 types of crafts.out of these, 35 crafts newlinehave been recognized as endangered and 92 crafts have been registered under Geographical newlineindication (GI) act. The exports of handicrafts (other than hand knotted carpets) was merely newlineRs. 386.57 crores during the year of establishment of the Council i.e. 1986-87 rose to level of newline25270.14 Crores in year 2019-20.There is a rise in the membership of handicraft firms with newlineEPCH rose from 35 in year 1985-86 to 9594 in 2019-20. newline