AP handicrafts Corporation registers 36 per cent growth

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Hyderabad, Jan 2 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister J Geetha Reddy today said the state handicrafts Development Corporation achieved the highest sales turnover of Rs 43 crore during 2005-06 as against Rs 35 crore in the previous year, registering growth of 36 per cent.

Addressing a press meet here, she said the corporation, which was making losses in 2003 had made a turn-around and achieved profits in the last two years. The corporation for the first time paid 12.5 per cent dividend to the Government of India and also to the state government in the last two years.

She said the Centre had recognised and appreciated the efforts of the corporation for development and promotion of handicrafts and given a 'letter of appreciation'.

The corporation had got 14 'Lepakshi Emporia', 12 in the state and one each in Delhi and Kolkata and was now planning to open new showrooms at various places in the state and also in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune and a second showroom in Delhi.

She said the corporation proposed to have a network of Lepakshi Emporia outside India in the form of franchise outlets, particularly in the US, UK, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai. Efforts were on for setting up such showrooms.

The state government had issued orders for supplying red sanders at subsidised rates to the corporation for improved earnings for the artisan community and turnover for the corporation. Red sanders would be available in Chittoor and Kadapa, and Japan had recently purchased Rs 70 crore red sanders from the forest department, she informed.

Listing out various activities taken up by the Corporation, she said it had decided to conduct exhibitions and craft bazaars for increased publicity of crafts and technical workshops and training programmes for skill upgradation of artisans numbering two lakh and induction of unemployed youth.
Regarding implementation of welfare schemes, she said the corporation had been providing Rs 500 per month as oldage pension to poor artisans and it had taken up construction of house-cum-worksheds and other benefits to artisans.