Kala Mitra

The Handicrafts Sector plays a significant & important role in the country’s economy. It provides employment to avast segment of crafts person in rural & semi urban areas and generates substantial foreign exchange for the country, while preserving its cultural heritage. Handicrafts have great potential, as they hold the key for sustaining not only the existing set of millions of artisans spread over length and breadth of the country, but also for the increasingly large number of new entrants in the crafts activity. Presently, handicrafts contribute substantially to employment generation and exports.

Council of Handicrafts Development Corporations (COHANDS) was established in the year 1983-84 under the aegis of Govt .of India, Ministry of Textiles, Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts). COHANDS is an apex body of 29 State /Central Govt. Handicrafts Development Corporations with its well-knit members throughout the country. COHANDS assists grass-root level organizations, NGOs, Self Help Groups and small entrepreneurs engaged in handicrafts for promotion of handicrafts.

COHANDS vision is to :

Enhance and adapt skill through design interventions.
Enhance productivity and income through technical upgradation.
Assist sustainable development and responsible working conditions
Assist in marketing through domestic and international channels.
Provide assistance and guidance for achieving better social environment.
Provide help and assistance in developing sound environmental regime / management.
Preserves and protects the intellectual rights of marginalized regions / communities.
Provides a forum for organizations and businesses, both national and international to interact leading to a better environment for development of crafts.

COHANDS , as a facilitator, provides necessary impetus, thrust and direction to trade but does not engage itself in trade directly .It makes concerted efforts to maintain high quality and cultural heritage and it works as a catalytic agent for promotion of handicrafts in the domestic and global markets. It preserves and protects the intellectual rights of marginalized region/communities.