Handicraft exports see 8.46% increase in 2015-16: Smriti Irani

India's handicraft exports have increased by more than 8 percent during the last fiscal, touching nearly Rs 31,000 crore, Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said in Lok Sabha today.

"According to the provisional data available, the exports of handicrafts have shown an increase of Rs 2,414.79 crore from Rs 28,524.48 crore to Rs 30,939.27 crore -- an increase of 8.46 percent in rupees term in 2015-16 as compared to previous year," she said.

Replying to questions, Irani said a proposal for creation of e-marketing platform under marketing support and service scheme has also been received from export promotion council for handicrafts in order to facilitate buyers and sellers to procure/sell as well as to promote products categories both in domestic as well as international markets online.

The proposal was deficient in some inputs, therefore same has been sought from export promotion council for handicrafts, she said.

The minister said Central Cottage Industries Corporation and Handloom and Handicrafts Export Corporation have undertaken digital marketing.

Several state handicrafts corporations are also selling their products through digital marketing.

The Minister said handicraft sector is an unorganised sector with unique identity for each craft. The government is contemplating to launch a voluntary scheme for rendering quality and authenticity of handicrafts products with a view to differentiate genuine and socially - environmentally compliant handicrafts products.

In addition, Textiles Committee has been asked to evolve a rating scheme for standardisation of handmade carpet manufacturing units, she said.

Irani said to develop and promote this sector, Ministry of Textiles is implementing various schemes with cluster and mega cluster level approach.