Overview

AIACA seeks to provide a supportive policy framework for the transition of the crafts sector into an organised, entrepreneurial and competitive part of the mainstream economy that lifts incomes and living standards of producers.

The main tools we use to achieve this are developing field-research based policy recommendations, building networks of relevant actors around key bottlenecks, engaging with relevant policy forums to spur policy reforms and reaching out to the general public, especially the youth, to raise awareness about the sector.

Since it's inception, AIACA has used its extensive network of members to collect information and bring greater attention to bear on the concerns of crafts producers and entrepreneurs. In addition to commissioning baseline studies to set the foundation for further work on access to credit, cooperative reform and environmental health and safety issues, we have given formal inputs to the approach papers for the 11th Plan as members of the Working Group on Textiles and Jute and the Working group on Village and Small Enterprises. In 2007, we also gave formal inputs to the Prime Minister's Consultation on Handloom Policy.

Over the next three years, AIACA's policy work will focus on the following four core areas:

• Improving Occupational Health and Safety for producers
• Minimizing Environmental Impact on communities
• Leveraging Geographical Indications to increase market share for craft products, and
• Evaluating and improving Government Schemes