HANDICRAFTS SECTOR

Introduction:

Over 130 species of bamboo are found in India and 44 varieties of bamboo are accounted for North Eastern States, of which Manipur has 15 varieties of bamboo and 5 varieties of cane and some of these are widely exploited by traditional communities on selective basis. It is reported that the natural endowed forests of Manipur cover nearly 3,000 sq. km. and the bamboo production is around 2 lakh tonnes annually. There is ample scope for cultivation & economic utilisation of cane & bamboo in many folds in the Manipur State to provide employment to the masses. New applications can open up the possible use of this rich genetic resource in a much wider manner than at any time in the past. Some of the varieties of bamboo found in Manipur & worth the name are as under :-

Cane & bamboo craft industry is covered under Handicrafts Industry within the ambits of encouragement/development plans of the office of the Development Commissioner(H/C), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and also the Department of Commerce & Industries, Government of Manipur. Among the crafts/trades under Handicrafts Industry, cane and bamboo craft is the most wide-spread one throughout the State and becomes most employment generating and lively-hood earning craft because of availability of sufficient raw materials and local market demands including household consumption needs in addition to demands from outside the State including overseas. Among the items of cane & bamboo products, the following are worth to mention:-

These items are in different forms/designs according to the varying customs of different tribes of the State. The number of artisans engaged in cane & bamboo activity in Manipur is estimated at 1.50 lakhs approximately.

Since India has a very large standing resource of bamboo, mostly in the forest areas and there is a tradition in many parts of the country for small-scale homestead cultivation of bamboo for self consumption, the commercial cultivation of bamboo is not found normally. In view of commercial cultivation and economic utilisation of bamboo and cane as a substitute for the fast depleting timber resources, the Government of India feels that there is a need for a comprehensive programme of cane and bamboo for sectional upgradation, enhancement of employment opportunities for artisans, promotion of value-addition through better and well designed product development, optimum propagation and conservation etc. To achieve these objectives, the office of the Development Commissioner(Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India has been taking up actions for launching of a special scheme of cane & bamboo development with the assistance of the International Body namely, “United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)” in the country specially for the North-Eastern States since last two years. The title of the scheme is “UNDP assisted Cane & Bamboo Project” The scheme will involve activities relating to propagation and conservation of cane & bamboo species, design and product development, setting up of common facility centres, training and skill upgradation, documentation & dissemination of information and market support, etc. These activities under the said project will cover the State of Manipur also.

Trained Artisans in Cane & Bamboo trade.

There are many trained Artisans / Entrepreneurs in the Cane & Bamboo trade in the State. Various Central/State Government Departments/Offices under various schemes through either departmental training centres or implementing agencies/ Mastercrafts persons have conducted training programmes for Cane & Bamboo in various parts of the State since last many years. In the State, there are also a number of skilled artisans having got training in Fine Bamboo & Cane Works from BCDI, under the O/o the DC(H/C), Government of India, Agartala. Data on the number of passed out trainees in Cane & Bamboo trade as on 31st March, 2001 for the departmental training centres under the Department of Commerce & Industries, Manipur and Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India are given below.

Concept of the Cane & Bamboo Production Project

Taking advantage of the potentials for further development on cane & bamboo crafts due to having sufficient raw materials resources, skilled manpower force, high market demand from within and outside the State and also keen interest from the Indian Chamber of Commerce(ICC), Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), NEDFI etc. for investment/buying of handicrafts products from the North East, the Government of Manipur shall take up a cane & bamboo project as a joint venture by setting up 10 units for Cane & Bamboo production in the State - one each at District Head Quarters and one at Block Head Quarters, Jiribam of Imphal East District, by acquiring improved type machinery.

The main objectives are as follows:-

The project shall consist of 10 units at the cost of Rs. 16.00 lakhs each and the total project cost shall be Rs. 160.00 lakhs, of which capital cost shall be Rs. 110.00 lakhs. The targets of Annual Sales/turnover shall be Rs. 208.00 lakhs for 1st year of operation, Rs. 234.00 lakhs for 2nd year and Rs. 260.00 lakhs for 3rd year and onwards. The project shall give employment to 800 persons directly. It will also create indirect employment to bamboo farmers/suppliers/ traders/artisans/entrepreneurs who may use the machinery facilities of the units under the project. 

The competitive advantage of the project over other cane & bamboo production units in the State shall be in terms of volume of production, quality & price because of the installation of improved type machinery. The project shall be first of its kind in the State. The facilities for utilising these improved machinery for standard processed materials of desired sizes may be opened to artisans in & around the locations of the units under the project after taking some charges.
Implementation work of the Project shall be entrusted to either capable/deserving individuals or NGOs or Co-operative Societies as promoters. One such party for each units shall be selected by the State Government. It is also proposed for participation of NEC, NEDFI and investors from members of CII & ICC for successful implementation of the project. The funding pattern of the project is proposed as below:-

State Government's role in the project shall be as under:

Arrangement for Raw Materials:

Some of the varieties/species of bamboo and cane commonly used by the handicrafts artisans of the State are as under :-

Under the UNDP assisted cane & bamboo project, integrated gene pool banks, tissue culture and plant multiplication nurseries will be set up by the Government of India at identified locations of the North-Eastern Region. By supplying necessary inputs from these centres, cultivation of bamboo & cane of selected species according to the local needs will be taken up through the selected farmers. Procurement & supply of required quality & quantity of bamboo & cane materials may be made through contract suppliers from these farmers as well as local resources. This system will also create employment to some persons.

Marketing arrangement:

Marketing arrangements for selling the finished products as well as semi-processed raw materials may be taken up in many ways or through many channels as follows:-

All the available media, trade fairs, web sites and e-commerce may be tapped to bring the benefits of a changed market place to the production unit. There is a centrally sponsored scheme for Handicrafts Development under the O/o the D.C.(Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India for opening of new/renovation/ expansion of emporia/sales outlets with a view to ensure economic development of crafts persons as a permanent outlet to avoid commission of middlemen in marketing of handicrafts etc. Under this scheme the units may get financial assistance from the Central Government for opening of new emporia/sales outlets at suitable places if the State Government/State Level Selection Committee recommends its applications for the same after one year or so of the successful implementation of the above project. The units may get financial assistance from the Central Government for organising exhibitions in various places within the country from time to time at yearly intervals so as to promote sales of handicrafts, increase awareness in favour of handicrafts, expose craftspersons to the market and launch new products and designs for trial and promotion. For survival of the units under the proposed cane & bamboo project, the State Government may frame a policy for purchase of Cane & Bamboo furniture and other office equipment from these units in place of new/replacement purchase of office furniture/equipment of wood/iron/plastic. This will not only help the Government Policy for providing employment to youth in the private sectors but also preserve the destruction of timber forests.

A profile of the project is indicated in the Annexure.

Kouna Craft Production Project (KCPP)

Introduction:

Kouna, which is locally called, is a class of reed - a firm- stemmed water or marsh plant especially of genus - Phragmites. The plants grow wildly in the marshy land, ponds, canals, along the river and lake beaches. From time immemoral, these stalks, locally called Kouna, after drying have been being used in making mats/mattresses by the people living mostly in the valley areas of the Manipur State. Kouna craft making mats/mattresses in different sizes, short and long is taken up by traditional artisans for economic earnings. The craft has now been taken up as a gainful economic activity by artisans/entrepreneurs in some areas in the State due to having high market demands. The plants are planted especially for economic utilisation in the marshy paddy fields, canals, along the submerged river and lake shores.

Kouna craft industry is also covered under handicrafts industries within the ambit of encouragement/development plans of the office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and also the Department of Commerce & Industries, Government of Manipur. Now-a-days, kouna craft becomes one of the flourishing industry among other Handicrafts in the State due to having potentials in source of raw-materials and markets. Kouna products have not only local market demands but also demands from outside the State including both the country and the foreign countries. These products are exported outside the State like Delhi and Mumbai and outside the countries like U.K., Netherland, German, France, UAE and Switzerland, etc. by traders/exporters/ NGOs. Some trading firms having business interest in Latin American countries have made inquires to the Department of Commerce & Industries, Manipur for kouna products especially for Cushion. The surging demands for kouna products surpass the current production in the State. As such, there is ample scope for large scale production of kouna items. Items of kouna products are as under:

Concept of kouna craft production project:

Taking advantage of the potentials for further development on kouna craft due to having room for expansion of raw-material sources by plantation methods, skilled manpower force, high market demand from within and outside the State and also keen interest from the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), NEDFI etc for investment/buying of handicrafts products from the North-East, the Government of Manipur shall take up a kouna craft production project as a joint venture by setting up 10 units for kouna production in the following suitable identified areas in the State.

The main objectives are as follows:

 The project shall consist of 10 units at the cost of Rs. 20.00 lakhs each and the total project cost shall be Rs. 200.00 lakhs, of which capital cost shall be Rs. 60.00 lakhs only. The expected annual sales/turnover shall be Rs. 288.00 lakhs for 1st year of operation, Rs. 324.00 lakhs for the 2nd year and Rs. 360.00 lakhs for the 3rd year and onwards. The project shall give employment to 560 persons under production programme and 500 persons under plantation programme. 

For availability of sufficient and regular flow of supply of raw materials, large scale plantation programme shall be taken up. Under this programme, 500 farmers from the suitable identified areas shall be selected and given loan @ Rs. 10,000/- per farmer for plantation of Kouna. They shall supply the raw materials (dry kouna) to the production units. 50 farmers shall tied up with each production unit which shall collect/recover the loan amount from the farmers by equal annual instalments for pay back to the lenders/ investors. The farmers may adjust the loan instalments against their sales proceeds received from the production units.

Under plantation programme, the following villages around Loktak Lake and Ithai Barrage and other areas are identified: 

The competitive advantage of the project over other Kouna production units in the State shall be in terms of volume of production, quality and price because of its organised form involving the Government. Advantages over other units are due to the availability of skilled manpower, arrangement for adequate raw materials supply as well as high market potentials including export, security environment to be created by the State Government especially for this project.

Implementation work of the project shall be entrusted to either capable/deserving individuals or NGOs or co-operative societies as promoters. One such party of each unit shall be selected by the state Government. It is also proposed for participation of NEC, NEDFFI and investors from members of CII & ICC for successful implementation of the Project. The funding pattern of the project is proposed as below:-

State Government’s role in the project shall be as under:

Marketing arrangement:

Marketing arrangements for selling the finished kouna products may be taken up in many ways or through many channels as follows:-

All the available media, trade fairs, web sites and e-commerce may be tapped to bring the benefits of a changed market place to the production unit. There is a centrally sponsored scheme for Handicrafts Development under the O/o the D.C.(Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India for opening of new/renovation/ expansion of emporia/sales outlets with a view to ensure economic development of crafts persons as a permanent outlet to avoid commission of middlemen in marketing of handicrafts etc. Under this scheme the units may get financial assistance from the Central Government for opening of new emporia/sales outlets at suitable places if the State Government/State Level Selection Committee recommends its applications for the same after one year or so of the successful implementation of the above project. The units may get financial assistance from the Central Government for organising exhibitions in various places within the country from time to time at yearly intervals so as to promote sales of handicrafts, increase awareness in favour of handicrafts, expose craftspersons to the market and launch new products and designs for trial and promotion. For survival of the units under the proposed Kouna Project, the State Government may frame a policy for purchase of Kouna products especially cushions in place of new/ replacement purchase of office rubber cushions. 

A profile of the project is indicated in the Annexure.