Page 19 - EDII Report 135

Accelerating Cluster Development

...National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)

Cluster Development Programme (CDP)

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has launched the National Rural Economic
Transformation Project (NRETP), {now, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) -
Cluster Development Programme (CDP)}, to promote growth and development of
clusters. As a Technical Support Agency (TSA) to State Rural Livelihood Missions
(SRLMs), EDII is engaged in providing technical assistance to 1805 artisans in 6 clusters.

NRETP Highlights till date:
• 1805 Artisans Mobilized 421 Artisan Cards Issued
· 16 Skill Trainings Conducted 449 Artisans Trained

Glimpses of activities during the last two months:
Dahod Pottery Cluster

On October 13, 2025, (R) Santosh Sharma, Cluster Development
Executive (CDE) met Kalpesh Garvi, Taluka Development Officer
(TDO), Zalod, to showcase the progress and products of the Dahod
Pottery Producer Company Limited (DPPCL). The TDO assured
strong institutional support and committed to promoting
maximum sales through DPPCL. This support is expected to
strengthen local market access and boost sales.

Additionally, a workshop was conducted from 11th-12th October, 2025 at the
Common Facility Centre (CFC) focussed on imparting training on new product creation.

Kolhapuri Chappal Cluster

A premium batch of handcrafted Kolhapuri chappals was prepared for a sample export
order to Japan via Chennai B2B, marking a significant milestone in expanding the
cluster's global market reach. In addition, the Kolhapuri Chappal Cluster has officially
secured a new B2B tie-up with an emerging brand that is launching a specialized line of
vegan leather chappals. This collaboration represents an important step towards
product diversification and sustainability-focused innovation within the cluster.

On 20th November 2025, an important meeting was held between the officials from
Kolhapur Airport and the Zila Parishad (ZP) Kolhapur. The discussions focused on
enhancing market visibility for cluster products. Mr. Karthikeyan S, IAS, CEO, Zila
Parishad (ZP), Kolhapur directed that footwear and accessories of Kolhapuri Leather &
Chappal Work Producer Company Ltd. (KLCWPCL) be positioned as the primary
products for sale at the airport stall. This directive opens a valuable retail opportunity
at a prominent public location, providing increased exposure to domestic and
international travellers.
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