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Hastkala Setu Yojana Gets Honoured with

While there is a need to preserve the traditional crafts and the olden processes the GI Excellence Award - Gujarat Chapter
of creating these, there is also a pressing need to step match with the market
requirements, strengthen the archaic practices with a touch of modernity and
technology adoption. This requires a mindset shift in addition to new skills
and competencies, and only such a change will help save the age-old practices
and crafts from getting extinct.

A significant project that enables EDII to make a contribution in preserving
crafts and creating ‘artpreneurs’ is the Hastkala Setu Yojana, an initiative of
the Commissionerate of Cottage and Rural Industries (CCRI), Government of
Gujarat. EDII is implementing the project in 33 districts of Gujarat,
strengthening cottage industries and rural entrepreneurship ecosystem. In
addition to ensuring skilling, networking and handholding, EDII has been
leveraging the power of GI tagging to empower artisans and promote
traditional crafts. The GI tags play a crucial role in preserving the traditional
art, giving global recognition and empowering artisans to achieve income
enhancement by capturing a wider market. Regional specialities gain
credibility through this recognition as genuine products get protected, giving
the artists an instant control over price and distribution. It makes me so glad
to mention that so far GI tagging has been successfully facilitated for
EDII Hastkala Project being awarded the prestigious 'GI Excellence Award - Gujarat Chapter'.
Ahmedabad’s Sodagari Block Print, Surat’s Sadeli Craft, Gujarat’s Suf
Embroidery, Bharuch’s Sujani Weaving and Mata Ni Pachhedi. Work is in full
swing to secure GI tags for Jasdan’s Patari Craft, Patan’s Mashru Saree & Project HastKala Setu Yojana, initiated & supported by the Commissionerate of Cottage
Fabrics, Banaskantha’s Applique Work, Saurashtra’s Moti Bharatkam (Bead and Rural Industries (CCRI), Government of Gujarat and implemented by EDII has been
honoured with the prestigious 'GI Excellence Award - Gujarat Chapter'. The Project has
Work) and Khavda’s (Kutch) Pottery work.
won award for excellence in Promotion and Geographical Indication (GI) Tagging of
Handicrafts. The award was conferred during the Conference – 'Leveraging GI for
India is blessed with diversity. Almost every region has its own individuality.
Economic Growth, Cultural Preservation, and Global Recognition' held on July 18th,
We are trying to employ the principles of entrepreneurship and technology to 2025, organised by the Intellectual Property Talent Search Examination and the Gujarat
reach out to as many such artistries as possible as each of these hold a little part National Law University.
of India in them.
- Sunil Shukla This recognition highlights the project's commitment to preserving Gujarat's traditional
crafts, supporting artisans in building sustainable livelihoods and helping them protect
their unique skills while finding new opportunities in today's evolving markets. Since its
inception in September 2020 across six districts, the project has steadily scaled up to
cover all 33 districts of Gujarat, reaching over 34,000 artisans. Through structured
training modules, design interventions, branding guidance and digital marketing
handholding, EDII has helped over 11,000 artisans to transition from informal setups to
Editorial Board
Editor formalised enterprises. A growing number of artisans have also been supported in
Ms. Julie Shah | Dr. Raman Gujral | Dr. Satya Ranjan Acharya
Dr. Sunil Shukla registering their products under the Geographical Indication (GI) framework, allowing
Dr. Piyush Sinha | Mr. Ganapathi Batthini | Ms. Harmeet Dawar

them to claim and protect the cultural and economic value of their traditional crafts. The
project helped enrolled artisans generate total sales Rs. 100.04 cr.

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