Now, artisans go glocal

Hyderabad: Telangana artisans are set to get international exposure. The state government has created a facilitation centre to market the products mainly furniture goods and handicrafts produced by the local artisans in international market.

Taking cue from the influx of investments by the multi- national companies which are opening their furniture and home decoration product retail sale outlets in the state particularly in Hyderabad, the government has come forward with the idea of creation of special cell calling it as facilitation centre aiming to create marketing facility for the local products in collaboration with the corporate companies.

The facilitation centre will hold meetings for the artisans, mainly carpenters engaged in the manufacturing of sofas, dining tables, cots and other furniture articles used for domestic and office needs.

The corporate investors which required huge stocks for sale in the regular market in Hyderabad as well as in other parts of the country and also the world market, will buy the finished goods from artisans.

In the wake of the pleas flooded from the investors requesting the government to help meet the increasing demand for variety articles particularly local made, a senior official said that state Industries and Handlooms and Artifacts department tapped a big demand for furniture and other handicraft articles manufactured by the local artisans.

Officials said that as part of corporate social responsibility, the investors also put a clause themselves in the agreement with the government that 35 per cent of the products to be sold in their outlets will be procured from the local artisans in Telangana. The special clause has come as a big advantage for the carpenters to showcase their skills and market their products.

“Artisans will have to convince the companies through their innovation. Once they are satisfied, local talent will get bulk orders at one go,” an official said that the facilitation centre will help to enter MoU ensuring the companies make payments promptly and the artisans supply finished products in time. Since the demand for the latest furniture to suit the new lifestyles is growing, the companies will also train the artisans for the production of world class furniture with local flavour and suit the demand at local and globally, official added.

The government already identified group of artisans manufacturing the latest furniture designs and supplying to the state-owned Golconda handicrafts, formerly known as Lepakshi Emporia in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. In addition, state handicrafts wing will scout for more talented artisans lying idle in the districts. All those identified talented persons will be provided training by the companies. Officials said the new initiative will not only help to increase the earnings of the artisans but also keep alive the dying local art in the making of furniture.