NEW DELHI, October 5, 2026: The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Northern Regional Office (NRO), New Delhi, organised a one-day regional workshop on “Overall Review and Implementation of DCH Schemes” on October 5 at the Conference Hall, Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan, New Delhi.
The workshop brought together empanelled NGOs, government and non-government organisations and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) involved in implementing handicraft development programmes. The meeting focused on reviewing scheme implementation, identifying field-level challenges and improving coordination between implementing organisations and the field office.
Focus on Implementation and Compliance
Key discussions covered pending Utilisation Certificates (UCs), physical and financial closure of sanctioned programmes, NGO Darpan compliance, empanelment requirements, MIS Portal, e-Aadhaar and other digital platforms, along with implementation of NHDP schemes, artisan database management and PFMS-based financial processes. During the interactive session, participants highlighted difficulties related to MIS Portal registration, PFMS procedures, Mudra Loan facilitation, processing of UCs and reimbursement claims. Organisations also shared achievements in online marketing, participation in fairs, artisan mobilisation and generation of bulk orders.
Participants called for timely sanction and release of funds to ensure that approved activities could be completed within the prescribed timeframe. Regional Director (Handicrafts) Shri Virendra Kumar encouraged participants to openly share genuine field-level problems and successful practices. He emphasised that practical feedback could help identify solutions and allow successful interventions to be documented and replicated.
Call for Genuine Artisan Identification
An important focus of the workshop was the identification of genuine and skilled artisans producing distinctive handicraft products. Shri Virendra Kumar appealed to participating organisations to submit details of such artisans for possible participation in live craft demonstrations at The Kunj, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. The initiative would provide selected artisans an opportunity to demonstrate their traditional skills and showcase their products to a wider audience.
He also asked organisations to provide detailed information on major craft concentration areas in their jurisdictions, including Block, Village and District, along with details of the crafts practised and artisan communities active in those locations. The information is expected to support the proposed comprehensive census of artisans being considered by the Ministry of Textiles. Accurate field-level data could help strengthen understanding of artisan distribution and craft clusters and support future planning and interventions.
Designers with Regional Craft Knowledge
Participants also raised concerns about the engagement of designers for Design and Technical Development Workshops. They pointed out that designers from distant regions may not always have sufficient familiarity with local languages, traditional craft practices, design sensibilities and raw-material availability.
Participants suggested greater flexibility for Regional Directors to engage designers who understand the specific craft ecosystem of the region, allowing design interventions to be more relevant to local artisans.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Craft
The workshop also featured expert perspectives on entrepreneurship, CSR interventions, skill development and sustainable livelihoods. Ms. Gitanjali Mongia, Director, Karigar Foundation, shared her experience of developing craft-based enterprises and discussed business opportunities, product development, market access, financial planning and challenges faced during the entrepreneurial journey.
Her presentation highlighted the potential of design and creativity to add value to low-cost and discarded materials. Through examples of projects undertaken for malls and government departments, she demonstrated how readily available materials can be transformed through craft, painting, decoration and design into commercially attractive products.
Mongia emphasised six elements in developing distinctive craft-based experiences: design, craft, scale, quality, engagement and sustainability. Examples included contemporary applications of Lippan craft, Phulkari, terracotta, charpai weaving and recycled materials. A notable example was a Christmas tree created using traditional terracotta pots made by artisans from Molela village in Rajasthan.
She also highlighted recycled glass beads and e-waste as materials that can be transformed into creative installations, demonstrating how sustainability and design can work together. The presentation also stressed the importance of recognising the individual artisan behind every product and connecting crafts with their makers, communities and places of origin.
CSR and Institutional Market Opportunities
Shri Vishal Lalwani, Group Manager and Thematic Lead – Skill Development and Livelihood, HCL Foundation, shared perspectives on CSR-supported development, partnerships with NGOs and SHGs, skill development and sustainable livelihood creation. He informed participants that HCLFoundation works with Producer Groups and undertakes procurement of handicrafts, particularly for corporate gifting. He also highlighted “MY HAAT”, an HCLFoundation outlet in Noida that provides another platform for marketing handcrafted products.
Lalwani explained that Producer Groups can be particularly useful for fulfilling large-volume and time-bound orders because they are better positioned to maintain consistency in product quality, dimensions, finishing and packaging while meeting delivery schedules. He encouraged NGOs, SHGs and Producer Groups to approach HCLFoundation with product catalogues and detailed information for consideration based on quality, specifications, quantity and delivery capabilities. Such institutional procurement could provide artisan groups with new and potentially more stable market opportunities.
Towards More Effective Artisan Development
Shri V. P. Thakur, Executive Director, National Council for Handloom and Handicraft Development, participated as Guest of Honour and provided an institutional perspective on implementation gaps, coordination and handholding support for artisans and implementing organisations. The workshop ultimately served as a platform for two-way communication between implementing organisations and the field office. Discussions covered procedural challenges, compliance, documentation, digital systems, financial processes, entrepreneurship and market access.
The deliberations highlighted the need for better coordination, accurate artisan data, timely implementation, stronger market linkages and greater emphasis on sustainable livelihoods.
The workshop therefore went beyond a routine review of schemes, focusing on practical problem-solving and outcome-oriented implementation. Its larger objective was to strengthen artisan livelihoods, encourage sustainable craft enterprises and ensure that handicraft development programmes translate into tangible benefits for artisan communities.
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