Bengaluru, 13th September 2025 – The Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council (HCSSC) successfully organized the Industry Meet under the esteemed chairmanship of Shri K.L. Ramesh, Chairman – HCSSC, in the presence of the Council’s Board Members Ms. Jesmina Zeliang (Co-Chairman), Mr. Om Prakash Prahladka (General Secretary), Mr. Rishi Soni (Executive Member), Mr. Dinesh Kumar (Executive Member), Mr. Nirmal Bhandari (Executive Member), Mr. Krishan Kumar (CEO) along with other esteemed Board Members and dignitaries of the Council at La Marvella, Bengaluru. The event brought together industry leaders, and key stakeholders from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh to deliberate on the future of the Handicrafts and Carpet industry.

In his address, Shri K.L. Ramesh emphasized the critical role such industry engagements play in strengthening the sector, ensuring sustained growth, and preserving India’s rich heritage of Handicrafts and Carpet sector. He urged all industry members to actively participate in shaping skill development strategies that align with industry needs and emerging market trends.

Mr. Krishan Kumar, CEO-HCSSC, further reinforced the Council’s commitment towards facilitating structured skill development interventions, bridging skill gaps, and promoting sustainable livelihoods for artisans and weavers. He remarked, “This platform serves not only to identify industry challenges but also to collaboratively evolve actionable solutions, ensuring that the sector remains vibrant and competitive.”

The meeting’s key discussions revolved around:

• Assessing the subsector and product-wise industry size across districts and clusters.

• Mapping craft-wise skill gaps and artisan concentration in key clusters.

• Evaluating the feasibility of setting up Centres of Excellence within industry premises.

• Defining the industry’s skilled manpower requirements for the short and long term

• Reviewing existing skilling and training programs and identifying future needs

• Understanding the need for advanced technologies and futuristic qualifications.

• Preserving dying traditional crafts requiring urgent attention.

Industry representatives from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh unanimously expressed their belief in the value of such forums. They shared that these deliberations provided not only clarity on immediate challenges but also offered insightful perspectives for a sustainable and progressive way forward.

The event concluded with a networking lunch, facilitating further interactions between industry members, policy makers, and skill development stakeholders.

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Bangalore/New Delhi, 23rd December 2024: Mr. K L Ramesh has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council (HCSSC), effective 23rd December 2024. The announcement was made during the recent Governing Council meeting, where Mr. Ramesh was welcomed with great enthusiasm. Mr. Ramesh brings a wealth of experience in leadership roles across various organizations. He has served as Vice President (1996–1998) and President (1998–2000) of the All India Agarbathi Manufacturers Association (AIAMA), Chairman of FAME R&D Center (2000–2004), and Regional Convener (South Zone) and Vice Chairman of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). His extensive contributions include roles as Chairman of the Import Raw Materials Committee at Karnataka Agarbathi Manufacturers Cooperative Society (KSAMCS) and Co-Chairman of the Governing Council at HCSSC, New Delhi.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Mr. Ramesh has actively contributed to social and community services. He is the President of Sri Sai Kutumbam Charitable Trust, Trustee of the Sri Shirdi Saibaba Temple Trust (Channapattana), and General Secretary of Asha Kiran Dialysis Center under AMCT. Mr. Ramesh is also a Member of the Community Services Committee of the Rotary Club of Bangalore and COA Member of Rotary Bangalore Vidyaalaya.

Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Ramesh said, I am deeply honored to take on this prestigious role as Chairman of the Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council. This opportunity allows me to work closely with a diverse group of stakeholders, including artisans, industry leaders, government bodies, and training partners, to collectively uplift and empower our skilled workforce. My focus will be on fostering innovation, enhancing skill development initiatives, and creating sustainable opportunities that ensure the growth and prosperity of the handicrafts and carpet sectors. Together, we can preserve the rich cultural heritage of our crafts while equipping artisans with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in a competitive, modern economy.

New Delhi, 14th July 2023 (Friday): Under the flagship skilling scheme Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi ji in a bid to empower the country’s youth with employable skills, Hon’ble Minister of State for Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday, 14th July 2023 inaugurated the first consignment of Export of Namda products to England from Srinagar, India.

During the launch, the Hon’ble MoS said this is a proud moment for all the stakeholders with such a defining outcome of the program, which Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has visioned for the Skill India Mission. He also said that such efforts to bring traditional and heritage products to the world market will be continued for the years to come. This is a successful example of creating new opportunities and prosperity for the artisans in association with the Industry and Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council to establish a viable ecosystem in the handicrafts and carpet sector.

During the launch of the first export consignment to England, Shri Arshad Mir, Chairman of Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council and Mr Krishan Kumar, CEO- HCSSC were among the present dignitaries.

During the discussions, Mr Krishan Kumar thanked the Flipkart Group for acknowledging the importance and uniqueness of the Country’s traditional and heritage crafts and promoting Handicrafts and Carpet products through its E-Commerce platform.

Friday, 22^nd July 2022: Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council signed an MoU with Flipkart Group in its endeavor to provide forward linkage to the artisans and weavers working in the traditional and heritage crafts clusters of the country through E-Commerce platform. Mr. Krishan Kumar CEO HCSSC and Mr. Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affair Officer Flipkart Group signed the MOU. Mr. Dhiraj Kapur, VP-Govt. Affair, and Dr. Tafheem Siddiqui, Director Policy, Flipkart Group were among the dignitaries present during the event.

During the discussions Mr. Krishan Kumar thanked the Flipkart Group for acknowledging the importance and uniqueness of the Country’s traditional and heritage crafts and promoting the Handicrafts and Carpet products through its E-Commerce platform.

Dimapur, Nagaland, is known for its traditional arts and crafts. The city of Dhansiri is located near the Dhansiri River. Because bamboo grows abundantly here, artists have learnt to create a variety of ornamental and functional products from it. If markets are expanded and demand is enhanced, there is still a lot of room for more jobs to be generated in this area.

Ms. Jesmina Zeliang, Executive Member, and Mr. Krishan Kumar, CEO, both from the Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council, showed him around the Training Centre, where more than 600 artisans and weavers have been trained through an industry-based training programme and have since been connected with the industry.

Ms. Jesmina Zeliang highlighted the need of industry collaborations in taking the region’s cultural traditions and heritage crafts to the next level in order to ensure long-term employment and promote the country’s export of handcrafted products. She also underlined the necessity for a Centre of Excellence where artisans may interact directly with stakeholders, with the stakeholders’ job being to connect them to national and international markets.

Hon’ble Minister of State Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated that the Ministry will place a greater emphasis on traditional skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling, as well as collaborating with industry to help skilled craftspeople gain market access.

He also advised that more cluster-based training programs with industry connections, self-employment options, and a micro-entrepreneurial approach be implemented and expanded for the overall benefit of the region’s traditional heritage crafts.

The Sector Skill Council also aims to establish a Centre of Excellence in various traditional crafts clusters of Nagaland for skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling the existing artisans and weavers, starting with Sovima Village, Dimapur, Nagaland, with the goal of promoting and developing traditional handloom and handicrafts products.

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The visit was part of a Government of India outreach programme aimed at connecting with people on the ground and monitoring the execution of different Central Government Schemes in the UT.

Mr. Arshad Mir, Chairman of the Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council, and Mr. Krishan Kumar, CEO of the Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council, took him around the centre, which is well-equipped with all of the infrastructure and raw materials for the region’s traditional crafts, such as carpets, embroidery, paper machine, and Namda products.

Mr. Arshad Mir also briefed the Hon’ble Minister on the process of making handicrafts, as well as the sector’s growth and possibilities. The Chairman stressed the need for skill development in the handicraft industry in order to not only resuscitate the region’s traditional and cultural heritage crafts, but also to provide work possibilities for artists and weavers.

Hon’ble Minister Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed his delight after speaking with the artisans about the great art and talent displayed by the locals. He stated that a specific emphasis will be placed on the development of local artists through the skilling and up-skilling program. He also presented certificates of recognition to local artists who had successfully completed training and assessments in the various job roles of the Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council in accordance with the National Skills Qualifications Framework as part of the Skill India Mission.

Jammu and Kashmir handicrafts have gained international acclaim for their delicate refinement and artistic grace. These crafts have a wide range of applications and are in high demand. There are approximately five lakh artists in the state who rely only on handicrafts for a living, and there is still a lot of scope for more jobs to be created in this sector if markets are extended and demand is boosted.

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IHGF is amongst Asia’s largest gifts & handicrafts fair, held biannually (Spring & Autumn edition) and is organised by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). The most significant and distinct sourcing platform in Asia – (IHGF Delhi Fair Autumn 2021), bringing you much more of everything you need and everything you want, bringing you a thoughtfully re-conceptualized & renewed IHGF Delhi Fair Autumn 2021 with 12 clear product categories in enriched display spaces.