Skill Development Programme - AHVY

Gana Unnayan Parshad got sanction from the Ministry of Textiles for undertaking skill upgradation programme of 600 women artisans on Jute Crafts in three blocks of south Dinajpurbviz: Kushmundi,Banshihari,and Harirampur in the year 2010 under the scheme of AHVY.

1) Diagnostic Survey of identified cluster of Artisan for asserting the needs of specific intervention required for making the cluster self-sustainable.
2) To develop SHGs for the production and upgradation of Jute craft on sustainable basis.
3) By giving a Photo identity card to each of the Handicraft Artisan for their identity.
4) To improve the productivity of the craftsmen and their income by giving standardize tools and equipments.
5) To develop new proto type to suit the test and preference to the contemporary market using the traditional skills of artisans and introducing the new techniques and technology for enhancing productions.
6) Development of new Tools , Process, Techniques etc for mass production. Test market of new products. Standardization of products based on the feedback and test marketing.
7) To increase the production based and upgraded the skill of artisans in the clusters.
8) To organize interaction session on different issues / Problems sharing experiences of different clusters to improve system efficiency and experience sharing as process of learning.
9) To Create awareness about the hand crafted products thus opening up new opportunities for boosting the sales of handicrafts in India and abroad through the various kinds of publicity mediums.
10) To provide marketing facilities on a permanent basis to the craftsmen through setting up sales outlets in rented building with a provision of renovation in every 5 years.
11) To understand market trend in terms of design product utility etc. in order to ensure enhanced market penetration and higher economy gains to the artisan through successful cluster study with stakeholders.
12) To provide to the exposure to best practices prevailing through field visit in India and abroad with a view to adopt and learn them for promotion and development of the sector and capacity building.
13) To provide necessary inputs though training of cluster artisans for development of entrepreneurship qualities.
14) To assist the Artisans Federation at the cluster level as working capital by providing Loan, Assistance from Bank and from Financial institutions.
15) To Provide financial assistance to the cluster manager to take care to the day to day activities of the cluster like Bookkeeping, Coordination with Govt. dept and to provide continuous support to the Artisans.
16) To provide continuous handholding support to the clusters of the Artisans by appointing expert/ consultants / institutions to get optimum result out of the sanction activities through planning, scheduling and monitoring.
Till date we have completed the Base line survey of the area , large group meetings, FGD for betterment of the Artisans as per guidelines of the scheme, organised a number of Skill Trainings as well as Design Development training for the selected artisans and 43 Self Help Groups have been formed with the active participation of the beneficiaries.

Gramshilpa:

GRAMSHILPA - a marketing unit of GUP was established mainly to provide need based marketing assistance, financial referral support and technical expertise to rural artisans and entrepreneurs . Three pronged supports are given by this unit to the artisans and entrepreneurs for proper marketing of their products for better income:
1. Sale through local selling agencies / agents and 2. Sale through participation at fairs / exhibitions held at different parts of India. 3. Training on Design & Linkages with the market organization.