The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, commenced a two-day workshop under the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Gandhinagar. The workshop is being held from 22–23 July 2026 with the participation of around 100 handicraft artisans, handloom weavers, and Khadi weavers from Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. The programme focuses on deliberations on the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative, direct interaction with artisans, weavers and rural youth, identification of operational challenges, and formulation of strategies to further strengthen the implementation of the initiative.

The workshop was inaugurated by Prof. (Dr.) Sameer Sood, Director, NIFT Gandhinagar, in the presence of Sh. Deeptansu Haldar, Regional Director (Western Region), Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Sh. Bidhan Das, Deputy Director, Indian Institute of Packaging, and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Sharma, Professor & Head, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), GIFT City Campus, Gandhinagar.

Addressing the participants, Prof. (Dr.) Sameer Sood highlighted the significant contribution of India's textile, handloom and handicrafts sectors to the national economy and emphasized that these sectors would play a pivotal role in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Referring to the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision of the "3 Ts", he stated that textiles encompass not only the textile industry but also handlooms, handicrafts and Khadi, forming an integral part of India's sustainable development ecosystem.

Prof. (Dr.) Sameer Sood observed that the textile ecosystem possesses immense potential to drive entrepreneurship, employment generation and innovation. Highlighting its employment intensity, he noted that government estimates indicate that an investment of ₹1 crore in the textile sector can generate nearly 70 jobs, making it one of the strongest engines of inclusive economic growth compared to many other manufacturing sectors. He encouraged participants to become employment generators rather than employment seekers, stressing that entrepreneurship would be central to increasing per capita income and achieving the goal of a developed India.

Speaking on rural development, Prof. (Dr.) Sameer Sood emphasized that India's next major transformation would emerge through a Village Revolution, with villages evolving into self-reliant economic centres. Since nearly 70 percent of India's population resides in rural areas, he underscored the need to strengthen rural livelihoods instead of encouraging migration to urban centres. He stated that NIFT could contribute significantly through design innovation, technology interventions and management support while helping artisans remain competitive in rapidly evolving markets.

Highlighting NIFT's initiatives, Prof. (Dr.) Sameer Sood informed participants about VisioNxt, India's indigenous fashion forecasting platform developed by NIFT to reduce dependence on international forecasting tools. He offered to organize a dedicated orientation on fashion forecasting and VisioNxt for artisans and entrepreneurs to enable them to better understand future consumer preferences and emerging market trends.

Prof. (Dr.) Sameer Sood further identified dead inventory as one of the major challenges confronting the textile, handloom and handicrafts sectors, attributing it largely to the mismatch between production and market demand. He emphasized that fashion forecasting, coupled with stronger market linkages and sound management interventions, would help artisans produce market-driven products, reduce unsold inventory, enhance competitiveness and create sustainable entrepreneurial opportunities.

Congratulating the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), particularly the Western Regional Office, for organizing the workshop, Prof. (Dr.) Sameer Sood reaffirmed NIFT Gandhinagar's commitment to supporting artisans, entrepreneurs and stakeholders through mentoring, design innovation, technology interventions and capacity-building programmes. He extended his best wishes for the success of the workshop and assured continued institutional support to India's handicrafts and textile ecosystem.

Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Deeptansu Haldar highlighted the objectives of the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative and reiterated the Ministry of Textiles' commitment towards promoting sustainable livelihoods for artisans and weavers. He encouraged participants to actively engage in the deliberations, share their experiences and provide constructive feedback for strengthening the implementation of various government schemes.

Sh. Bidhan Das, Deputy Director, Indian Institute of Packaging, delivered an insightful session on the importance of packaging, branding and value addition in improving the marketability of handicraft products. He emphasized that appropriate packaging plays a critical role in enhancing product appeal, strengthening brand identity and enabling artisans to access wider domestic and international markets.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Sharma, Professor & Head, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), GIFT City Campus, Gandhinagar, stated that India's handicrafts and handloom sectors possess immense potential to strengthen the country's foreign trade by offering products that reflect the nation's rich cultural heritage and exceptional craftsmanship. He observed that initiatives such as the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative play a vital role in enhancing artisans' competitiveness through skill development, market linkages and value addition. Integrating traditional craftsmanship with global market requirements, he said, would significantly expand India's exports while creating sustainable livelihoods in rural areas and contributing to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The workshop has been designed as an interactive platform to facilitate direct engagement with artisans and weavers, understand their experiences in implementing various developmental schemes, identify operational challenges and gather constructive suggestions for enhancing the effectiveness of the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative. The programme also promotes the exchange of experiences and best practices among participants from different states, fostering collaboration, innovation and shared learning.

The two-day workshop reflects the continued commitment of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, towards promoting inclusive growth, preserving India's rich handloom and handicraft heritage, strengthening rural entrepreneurship and advancing the socio-economic empowerment of artisans and weavers through participatory, field-oriented and capacity-building initiatives.

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