All India Artisans And Craftworkers Welfare Association

The handloom and handicraft sectors in India hold deep cultural and historical significance, rooted in generations of artisans crafting utility and de Read morecorative objects primarily by hand, using simple tools. To ensure the sustainability and viability of these sectors, the concept of forming an apex body for the craft industry emerged. This idea was born from discussions among key figures in the sector, including William Bissell, Managing Director of Fabindia, and Laila Tyabji, Chairperson of Dastkar, both of whom served on the board of AIACA. Over the years, many individuals and organizations within the sector have engaged with the government on various issues, such as the need for policy reforms, tax regulations for crafts-based businesses, and access to credit and social security services for craft workers. However, these efforts had limited impact due to their isolated nature. The fragmented, dispersed, and unorganized nature of production in the crafts sector made it challenging to translate sectoral growth into improved living standards for artisans. The rapidly changing economic landscape in India highlighted the need for proactive research to support policy-making that would enable craft workers to navigate these changes, address challenges, and capitalize on domestic market opportunities created by economic and trade liberalization. Recognizing these challenges, there was a clear need for a membership-based apex body to represent craft workers at the national level. This body would help articulate their needs and advocate for favorable policies, bringing together private businesses, non-profit organizations, and cooperatives in the crafts sector, all of whom were affected by the lack of effective policies and an enabling environment for growth. As a result, the All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association (AIACA) was established in March 2003 as an informal association of craft NGOs and producer organizations across India. After a year of operating informally, AIACA was formally registered under the Societies Registration Act on January 30, 2004. In its early years, AIACA realized that providing policy inputs alone was insufficient. The critical needs of most producer groups were access to markets and technical support. Consequently, AIACA expanded its focus to create Enterprise Support Programs aimed at helping craft producers become commercially sustainable organizations.