....from AID-News dated Apr 25

An E-initiative for rural craftsman

I am working for Enterprise Research and Marketing Unit, Bhagavatula Charitable Trust. This project is being supported by AID.

Handicrafts and Handlooms together engage about 16 million people and have a turnover of $ 5000 Mil. (Ref. VII Five Year Plan Vol II). However, this translates to only about Rs.13,000 per person @ Rs. 42/$ (usually per family). But go to any crafts shop i n India (other than KVIC) the prices of articles are exhorbitant, the profit margins are taken away by the traders.

However, there are initiatives where designers and craftsmen are working together to address the contemporary market with appropriate designs, colour combinations, etc. Here the earnings of the craftsmen increase tremendously. E.g. in Warangal, the dhurry weaving has been extremely profitable due to this designer intervention (to target Japan/Europe). Many non weavers are learning to weave to produce them because of good earnings. Similarly in Etikoppaka, C.V.Raju produces wooden articles with veg dyes (he spent 10 years researching into veg dyes) and the quality is extremely high. On an average, craftsmen supplying articles to him earn Rs. 3000 - Rs. 7000 pm. Jinnan, an NID graduate, works with potters in Kerala, his potters also earn upto Rs. 7000 pm pr oducing clay tiles for walls. These are the new entrepreneurs who believe in fair trade and share the profit amoung the craftsmen.

Although there are some portal addressing fair trade on a world scale, there are'nt any doing so in the country (or are there any?). Most of the sites that sell crafts address only those living outside the country with prices in dollars. We would like to address both within the country and outside the country.

We would like to have a prototype Eshop. Initially, we would like to have about 100 different products from North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Depending upon the response, we would go for a full fledged portal for Ecommerce. The products of initial interest a re: Laquer finished wooden articles also known as Etikoppaka toys; handspun, handwoven 100 Count Sarees; handspun, handwoven, veg dyed bed sheets; screen printed Cards and Stationery; Bags, Folders and Brassware.

Lot of issues (I know only some!) need to be looked at before such an initiative could be launched. I would like to have a small discussion group to address the issues of concern. Could those interested send a mail here to initiate the group? In the subject line put in 'for Suresh' so that the mail gets to me.

- Suresh