The Kuttch Mahotsav, organised by the Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd (CCIC), is the first step towards promoting crafts from the region. Textiles Minister Santosh Gangwar today inaugurated "Kuttch Mahotsav", a theme-based festival entailing exhibition-cum-sale of handicrafts from the region.

In an endeavor to promote handicrafts and handlooms, the government had announced setting up of a handicraft mega cluster in Kuttch, which will focus on hand-crafted items and craft-based textiles.

The government proposes to set up six more textile mega-clusters of which one will be in Kuttch.

Chief General Manager of CCIC Pramod Nagpal said that they chose Kuttch because the government had recently announced a mega cluster for handicrafts in the region. Also last month, a diagnostic study was conducted jointly by Ministry of Textiles and CCIC team on the products being made in Kuttch, the needs of artisans and how these products can be better marketed. The main aim is to provide a livelihood and increase marketing opportunities to artisans belonging to the Kuttch region.

Kuttch is known for its distinctive traditional crafts, from embroidery to jewellery-making and carving.

The Kuttch exhibition focuses on Kuttch crafts such as Soof, Mirror Work, Rabari, Ahir, Patchwork and other Embroidered products, Ajrak, Tie & Dye, Batik and Block printed textiles products, hand woven embroidered shawls, wooden lacquerware, wood carving, copper coated iron bell, embroidered leather accessories, mud/clay work and Rogan painting.

If proper support is provided to artisans it will help in growth of the handicrafts sector. There is lot of potential in this field and the talent can be showcased in tourist places like Taj Mahal in Agra.

This year there are plans to open at least four souvenir shops in places of tourist interest like Taj Mahal and Ajanta Ellora, besides two others for which they are in talks with Archeological Survey of India (ASI) who have in-principle agreed to provide them the appropriate retail space, Nagpal said.

This year they are targeting a turnover of Rs 100 crore, as against Rs 82 crore in 2013-14. Last week they opened one more showroom in Delhi for marketing of handloom products. By month-end, they will be opening another showroom in Mumbai.

The exhibition-cum-sale will remain open to public till October 20 and the visiting hours are from 10 am to 7:30 pm.