Handicraft Associations

All India Handicrafts Board The All India Handicrafts Board was originally set up in 1952 to advise the Government on problems of handicrafts and to suggest measures for improvement and development. The board was also required to study technical, marketing, financial, organizational, artistic and other aspects of handicrafts and to formulate plans on these lines. Its function also included advice and assistance to the state Governments for planning and executing schemes for the development of handicrafts.

Central Corporations/Bodies

• » The Handicrafts and Handlooms Export Corporation of India (HHEC) is a subsidiary of the State Trading Corporation of India, and came into existence in June 1962. The corporation's policy in the field of direct exports is designed to develop new markets and expand traditional ones and to introduce new products suitable to the needs of the consumers abroad. The Corporation undertakes and executes wholesale orders, conducts retail sale operations through retail shops abroad, and participates and sells in major exhibitions of the world. HHEC also helps private exporters by affiliating them as business associates. It undertakes a number of publicity and promotional measures for the export of handicrafts and handloom products.
• » The Central Cottage Industries Corporation, Pvt. Ltd. is a registered society which had taken over from the Indian Cooperative Union. It runs the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE) at Janpath, New Delhi, the premier sales organization in Indian handicrafts. The CCIE has branches at Bombay, Calcutta, Madras and Jaipur. CCIE has grown by leaps and bounds in the successive years.
• » The North-Eastern Handicrafts & Handloom Development Corporation Ltd., [NEHHDC], Shillong was set-up in 1977 with a view to develop and boost the sales of handloom & handicrafts goods from north-eastern region.

Related Associations

• » National Handlooms & Handicrafts Museum (NHHM), New Delhi Set up at Pragati Maidan, the NHHM is comprised of 15 structures representing village dwellings, court yards and shrines from different states and is spread over an area of 5 acres. It comprises of about 20,000 rare and distinctive pieces of collection reflecting the excellence of Indian craftsmen.