The Hindu Business Line : Lepakshi expo in Kochi

EXQUISITE STROKES: A wall painting on display at the 14-day exhibition-cum-sale Lepakshi, organised by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation, that began in Kochi on Thursday. - K.K. Mustafah

Kochi , Sept.1

LEPAKSHI, the exhibition-cum-sale organised by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation, began here on Thursday.

Mr P.A. Ahammed Kannu, Convenor, Kerala State Handicrafts Apex Co-operative Society Ltd, inaugurated the two-week exhibition at the Kanaka Damodar Auditorium.

Items such as hand-woven sarees, dress materials, suit cloth sets, crafts, pottery items, Hyderabad Pearls and jewellery items are on display.

Speaking to reporters, Mr P. Venkataramadu, Manager, Lepakshi Handicrafts Emporium, said that the Corporation is organising exhibitions in various places in the country to help artisans sell their products directly to the consumers. It had achieved a total sales turnover of Rs10 crore in the year 2004-05 from 65 exhibitions. For the financial year 2005-06, the Corporation has set a target of Rs 20-crore turnover from these programmes.

Set up in the year 1982, the AP Handicrafts Development Corporation markets the production of over 1,50,000 artisans through its network of 13 sales emporia with the trade name of Lepakshi. Procurement centres at Tirupati and Bobbili have been set up to undertake production of the local craft at low prices.

Apart from this, it is also organising training programmes in selected crafts where the production is not commensurate with the demand and also in cases where the craft is less known and languishing for want of adequate patronage and awareness.

During the current year, it plans to conduct training programmes in brass art, Nirmal painting, stone carving, veena-making and brass art ware.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Lepakshi expo in Kochi

Golden chariot

Cartoon