Handloom, Handicraft sectors in PM’s Kashi expect something more from FM in Budget

Varanasi: As the Union Budget 2020-21 is going to be presented in the Lok Sabha on February 1, the people associated with the handloom and handicraft sectors in the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expecting something big for these sectors from the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Since Varanasi and its adjoining districts have emerged as a hub of Geographical Indication (GI) certified handicraft and handloom products, these sectors are longing for the establishment of a National GI Board gor the global promotion of GI-tagged goods.

The GI expert Padma Shri Dr Rajni Kant of Human Welfare Association (HWA) is hopeful of getting something big for these sectors in the union budget. “Lakhs are people across the country are engaged in handloom and handicraft sectors, and alone the Varanasi region is known for it exclusiveness in these sectors,” he said adding, “We would like to urge the finance minister to open the coffer for these marginalized people, who earn a good amount of foreign exchequer for the country”.   

Kant wants to draw FM’s attention to the following 10 points for the well being of these sectors.

1. The budgetary allocation of handloom sector, which engages lakhs of weavers, should be enhance.
2. Budget should be allocated for the solar subsidy to the artisans.
3. For the promotion of GI-tagged goods at international level, a budgetary provision should be made for the establishment of the National GI Board.
4.  All handicraft goods should be included in a single GST slab of 5%.
5. There should be a provision of ‘Handicraft Credit Card’ on the pattern of ‘Kisan Credit Card’.
6. A special budgetary allocation should be made for the special training of artisans, packaging and marketing of goods.
7. There should be a separate budgetary provision for woman weavers and artisans, and for the marketing of the goods produced by them.
8. Special provision should be made for development of GI Tourist Circuit and Craft Tourism for the interest of Indian crafts and craftsmen.
9. A provision for the establishment of special raw material depot and common facility centres (CFC) for handicraft and handloom sectors.
10. There should be a provision of promotional activities and marketing of Indian handicraft and handloom in foreign countries through the respective Indian embassies.