Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for MSME [I/C] presented the guild certificates to nine framers in Picture Framing Segment athe t 46thedition of IHGF-Delhi Fair Autumn being held at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida from October 14 – 18, 2018.
Also present on the occasion were: O P Prahladka, Chairman, EPCH, Jesmina Zeliang, President of the fair, Mohan Singh Bhati and Ahmed Akberali Sundrani, Vice Presidents of the fair, R K Passi and Sagar Mehta, Vice Chairmen, EPCH and Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director, EPCH. Santosh Ranjan Rai, Rajesh Chaudhary and Naveen Kumar also attended the fair.
Handicrafts’ growing importance in Indian economy
Distributing the guild certificates to winners, Singh stated the Indian soul resides in handicrafts sector, which keeps us close to the roots. Nearly seven million artisans and crafts persons work in different craft clusters of the sector and are its backbone. He urged everybody to make efforts to increase their livelihood. Singh appreciated EPCH for giving them the opportunity to display their intricate craftsmanship through this show, generating employment for them as well as providing technical support for enhancing designs of their products to compete in the world market.
Paying the artisans the real value of skills
He further said handicrafts sector can flourish only when artisans are paid the real value for their skills. Whatever progress the handicraft sector has so far made, is because of hard work of artisans and crafts persons of India.
EPCH in collaboration with Manish Gourisaria, Joint Managing Director of Lion India has taken an unique initiative to upgrade the Picture Framing Industry in India by conducting GCF training programme for Indian framers in association with Fine Art Trade Guild, London, UK. Rakesh Kumar, ED, EPCH revealed this will enable framers to acquire higher skills and quality of workmanship and accommodate different levels of framing with the bespoke market to International standards.
