Hastkala Setu Yojana, a handicraft and weaving training programme run by the Gujarati government, has earned a gold SKOCH award in the “Ease of Doing Business” category. The project received praise for improving the skills of rural artisans throughout Gujarat.
The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India revealed in a press release on July 13 that the project had been picked from 42 state government programmes following three rounds of selection. The ‘Commissionerate of Cottage and Rural Industries’ of the state government oversees the Hastkala Setu Yojana, which is carried out through the EDII.
According to a press release from the Gujarati government’s secretary and commissioner for cottage and rural industries, Pravin Solanki, “The State gets its identity from its handicraft and handloom legacy.” “It is our duty to protect and promote these crafts and see them grow. Therefore, the government made the decision to partner with organisations like EDII to upskill the weavers and artisans in the field. I’m glad that all of our efforts paid off and that they are now creating new designs, utilising cutting-edge techniques, utilising their expertise, and using a variety of cutting-edge techniques and online sales platforms to market and sell their goods. ‘Ease of doing business’ has undoubtedly improved.
The winners of the 93rd SKOCH Awards, which had the topic “State of Governance 2047,” were announced after the final panel discussion and Q&A session. The SKOCH award is “India’s highest independent civilian honour,” according to the EDII. According to Sunil Shukla, director general of EDII, “e-commerce and social media are completely changing the business landscape globally, so it is imperative for rural entrepreneurs to stay on top of these technological advancements and the enormous opportunities these alone can bring to them.” “It is equally crucial to make sure that rural craftspeople stay up with these changes and are outfitted to do so. Under the Hast Kala Yojana Project, EDII is assisting business owners to improve their abilities and knowledge, open up new markets, and encourage ease of customer contact. They now produce highly sought-after, unique products on the market.
