Indiahandmade Portal: Boosting Livelihoods and Preserving Craft Heritage
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Why in News
- The government is using the Indiahandmade portal to bring traditional craft heritage into the online economy.
- This platform forms a key part of the Digital India vision to support rural jobs and preserve local arts.
About the Platform
- The Ministry of Textiles and Digital India Corporation launched the Indiahandmade portal in 2023.
- It acts as a dedicated digital store that connects weavers and artisans directly with buyers across the country.
Importance of the Sector
- India currently has around 64.66 lakh handloom weavers and handicraft artisans.
- Women play a central role here, making up 71% of handloom weavers and 64% of all artisans.
Direct Access and Range of Products
- Direct connection between artisans and buyers helps eliminate middlemen and expands market reach.
- The platform sells clothing, home decor, furniture, paintings, religious goods, stationery, musical instruments, jewelry, bags, and shoes.
Promoting Regional Products and Trust
- Special visibility is given to GI-tagged and ODOP (One District One Product) crafts.
- Featured traditional arts include Aipan art, Pashmina shawls, Dokra decor, Tangail sarees, Banarasi silk, Ikat, Chanderi silk, and terracotta.
- Buyer trust is built through secure payments, free shipping, purchase guarantees, and easy registration for producers.
Overall Significance
- The government aims to bring more than 60 lakh artisans onto this single portal.
- This push strengthens the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission by linking small rural creators to the nationwide digital market.