Problems of Handicraft Artisans: An Overview

The term "Handicraft" encompasses a wide range of artifacts The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) offered a workable definition in the Eighth Plan: "Items made by hand, often with the use of simple tools, and generally artistic and/or traditional in nature. The handicraft artisans of India, at least a large majority of them, are known for their perfection of craftsmanship, excellence of design and form and an unsurpassed sense of colour. The craftsman"s position in the pre-dominantly agricultural society was pivotal, for it made the village society self-contained. The handicraft artisans of India were prized for their perfection of craftsmanship, excellence of design and form and an unsurpassed sense of colour. The crafts man"s position in the pre-dominantly agricultural society was pivotal, for it made the village society self-contained. The artisan was an important factor in the equation of the Indian society and culture. It is the artisans who actually develop handicrafts. Hence, it would be fruitful to examine and understand the socio-economics background of artisans, which influence s to large extent in the development of handicrafts.