The Hindu Business Line : Lepakshi expo gets under way

About 70 crafts persons, representing well-known crafts of the State such as Nirmal, Etikoppaka and Banjara tribal embroidery, would exhibit their products.

Addressing a pre-launch press conference here on Wednesday, Mr B. Jayaraj, Managing Director of the Corporation, has said Lepakshi was acquiring new identity with changed product profile.

"We have started engaging designers to keep the products in tune with market expectations," he said.

Referring to a project report submitted by the Jaipur-based Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, he said the corporation had a financial assistance of Rs 15 crore from the Centre to implement the report.

The corporation, which organised 60-70 exhibitions across the country, sold products worth Rs 5 crore during the nine months of this fiscal as against Rs 4 crore through expos.

During 2003-04, it held 67 expos that earned Rs 8 crore for the corporation. During the period, it achieved a turnover of Rs 20 crore. The target for the fiscal was put at Rs 34 crore. "Next year, we would touch Rs 40 crore," the Managing Director said.

In order to help the poor artisans, the corporation was planning to set up common facility service centres in Hyderabad. This would provide basic infrastructure for a variety of crafts that could be shared by artisans.

He said the real opportunity was in exports. "The response to some fairs organised in the UK, the US and Germany showed that there is a great demand for Lepakshi goods. We will certainly explore this avenue," he said.

Stating that 55 craftsmen were being given pensions (Rs 500 each), he said 190 more would be given pensions in phases. "We set apart 0.5 per cent of our sales turnover to Artisan Welfare Trust to take up welfare programmes," he said.

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