The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles implements two schemes namely National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) for overall development and promotion of handicrafts sector across the country including Kishanganj, Bihar. Under these schemes, need based assistance is provided for end-to-end support to the artisans through marketing events, skill development, cluster development, formation of Producer Companies, direct benefit to artisans, infrastructural and technology support, research and development support etc. which benefit the traditional crafts including Kheta embroidery and Sujani Embroidery craft of Kishanganj, Bihar.  Further, total 6 programmes under skill development have been organised in Kishanganj during the last five years from FY 2020-21 to 2024-25 and total 290 artisans were benefitted through different financial support schemes of Office of DC (Handicrafts) during the last 5 years FY 2020-21 to 2024-25.

The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) implements Marketing Support and Services under NHDP scheme wherein artisans participates from all over the country on National and International  platform viz. Gandhi Shilp Bazaar, exhibitions, fairs, thematic shows, cultural exchange programme, buyer-seller meet, Reverse buyer-seller meet, India International Trade Fair, Surajkund Mela,  G20, BHARAT TEX 2024, etc. to encourage market linkages and branding for these unique handlooms at both national and international levels.

This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF TEXTILES, SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH in a

written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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DHANYA SANAL K