Dastkari Haat Samiti (DHS)
The Dastkari Haat Samiti is a nationwide association that brings together craftspeople from all parts of India on a common platform to expand the market for handicrafts using traditional skills. The Dastkari Haat Samiti is a not-for-profit association registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It was founded in 1985 in New Delhi, India. The Dastkari Haat Samiti aims to be the collective movement of growth and economic empowerment for India's crafts people for sustainable livelihoods and to preserve India's cultural heritage.
The Samiti's special expertise is in
- Adapting traditional skills to contemporary needs.
- Organizing craft bazaars and innovative marketing programme
- Conducting workshops for design and cultural exchange.
- Research and documentation of crafts, crafts skills and craft systems.
- Creating world class publications for the promotion of crafts
Main Activities
- Conducting workshops in rural areas with craftspeople, and providing need based design inputs to them throughout the year. Such programs are offered to craftspeople from other countries where it also facilitates cultural bonds and friendship.
- Advocacy for creating more markets and a better life for craftspeople.
- Crafts bazaars/exhibitions in India and abroad.
Beneficiaries
Craftspeople from all over India.
Projects
- The Creation of Dilli Haat
The Dastkari Haat Samiti created the concept of a model urban crafts market place. This resulted in the establishment of Dilli Haat by the government which is now being replicated in other cities of the country.
- The Crafts & Textiles Maps of India
The Samiti has conducted a baseline survey of crafts and textiles of the entire country. Spread over 10 years, the crafts and textiles of each state were researched and documented in artistic crafts maps. Most of these were sponsored by the Ministry of Textiles, and a few by private corporations. There are 23 maps, one for each state, and one covering all India while the seven sisters, of the Northeast, have been covered in one map. These maps have been used by UNDP and the Ministry of Textiles to relocate artisans after the earthquake in Gujarat and the cyclone in Orissa. They are also being used by the Tourism Ministry as a reference to develop tourist hubs and for tourists.
The maps were mounted in an exhibition titled The Crafts Journey of India in February 2005, inaugurated by India's President.
- International Collaborations
The Samiti believes that craft linkages play a valuable part in diplomacy and creating goodwill and understanding among peoples of different cultures. It has organized inter- country programme for the exchange of designs and skills to create new products for the global market:
- Grahamstown, South Africa, July 2003;
- Afrikhadi, South Africa September 2003;
- Dostkari, March 2004, with artisans from Pakistan;
- Lotus Links, December 2004( with artisans from Vietnam);
- Afrikhadi, December 2005 (with artisans from South Africa;
- Sri Lanka Export Training Programme, January 2006;
- February 2006 At the invitation of PlaNet Finance, the Samiti participated at the 7th International Handicrafts Fair at Kathmandu;
- UN Headquarters May 2005;
- Art in Action, July 2006 and 2007;
- Frankfurt Book Fair Oct 2006;
- Children's Books sponsored by UNESCO;
- Elephant Tales, Dec 2006;
- Collaborative Batik workshop with artisans from Sri Lanka, March 2007;
- Study Tour for Craftspeople from Sri Lanka, Oct 2007;
- United Nations Project, Oct 2007
- Craft Development Work in India
- Basket weavers in Badohi, Uttar Pradesh, 2004
- The Meo region of Haryana;
- Women in Jharkhand;
- Natural Dye Workshop in Ladakh;
- The potters of Aruvacode : new product and technical development workshop in bell metal, Betul, October 2005;
- New product and technical development workshop in Gond Painting, Bhopal, October 2004;
- New product and technical development workshop in Toy making, Nirmal, August 2004;
- Technological Guidance Workshop on illustration of books;
- The Taj Hotel Project.
Presently the Samiti is
- Preparing to mount its exhibition "The Indian Crafts Journey" for a conference being organized by the Asian Heritage Foundation for an International Conference on Federalism.
- Selecting crafts people for its Annual Crafts Bazaar at Dilli Haat
- Organizing a cultural exchange workshop with crafts people from Thailand which will be conducted during its Annual Crafts Bazaar.
Partnering with PlaNet Finance in Nepal for the SMElink project
The Dastkari Haat Samiti has agreed to participate in the SME link project as an expert, to share its extensive knowledge of crafts and crafts people, especially at the grass roots to enable enterprises in Nepal to learn from its experience. Since DHS has been involved in building sustainable livelihoods, through skill upgrading, design inputs and marketing of rural products through crafts bazaars at urban markets, it believes it can use a similar strategy to empower SMEs in Nepal. DHS's experience in research, documentation and publications could also be utilized by the SME Link Project for creating more spaces for the products made by SMEs in Nepal.
Strategy for the coming years
Increase the influence of the crafts sector in policy, marketing, trade and cultural spaces by being an effective platform for crafts people.
Increase its efforts and share its experiences on policies for craft development, the creation of more marketing avenues and facilitating the processes of production.
Provide specific consultancy for the creation of "urban haats" particularly for rural crafts people in India and its neighbouring countries.
Become a catalyst for regional cooperation in craft development through workshops, skill sharing, design interactions and other forms of cultural exchanges.
Other Partners' Presentation
