Since inception in 1984, our NGO has implemented many schemes and projects of the office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India. We have done few projects and associations with other departments also but our major activities are sponsored by the office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).

To attain our objectives the activities undertaken by our NGO are detailed under

PROTECTION OF INTERESTS OF ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Geographical Indication Registration for Lucknow Chikan Craft

Our NGO is Registered Proprietor of Geographical Indication Registration (GI) of Lucknow Chikan Craft.

Geographical Indication Registration for Lucknow Zari Craft

Efforts are on for Geographical Indication Registration (GI) of Lucknow Zari Zardozi Craft.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

FORMATION OF SELF HELP GROUPS

Our society has formed 15 Self Help Groups of grass root level women artisans of Chikan craft in Lucknow District.

We have also formed 17 Self Help Groups of Tharu Tribal women in Mihinpurwa Block, Dist. Behraich.

SKILL UPGRADATION TRAINING PROGRAM

Our society has organized 3 Six months Skill Upgradation Training Centers for Chikankari artisans. In these training programmes 60 artisans with less skill of Lucknowi Chikankari were trained by the skilled instructor about more interacted stitches of Lucknowi Chikankari.

NEW PRODUCT & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

Our society has organized Six Design & Technical Development Workshops, for Hand Block Textile Printing, Lucknowi Chikankari and Zar-Zardozi crafts. In these workshops NIFT passed designers are hired to design new products and outfits to explore the domestic and international market. These workshops were organized to train the member artisans of SHGs about the new design trends in the markets.

MARKETING SUPPORT TO HANDICRAFT ARTISANS & ENTREPRENEURS

EXHIBITION CUM SALE

Our society has organized about 75 Exhibition-cum-Sales at different cities of India. In these exhibitions handicraft artisans are invited to participate and sell their products directly to the customers.

PARTICIPATION IN MELAS, CRAFT BAZAARS & FAIRS

Our NGO participates in many craft bazzar and melas such as Laxmen Mela organised by Lucknow Nagar Nigem, Lucknow Mahotsav organised by U P Tourism, Crafts Bazaars organised by the office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).

Handicrafts Export Promotion Council organised an Indian Handicrafts & Gift Fair Sourcing at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi in March 2006. Society participated in the fair to give exposure and new marketing linkage to the artisans of handicrafts. Society also participated in India International Trade Fair 2006.

PUBLICITY OF PRODUCTS OF ENTREPRENEURS

PUBLICATION OF CATALOGUES

Our society has published three catalogues on different handicrafts of Lucknow

First catalogue was published in the year 1992 on traditional Hand Block Textile Printing of Lucknow. The history of Block Printing, method of doing it and so many designs and motifs with products were shown in the catalogue.

Second was published in the year 2002 on Handicrafts of Lucknow. The Catalogue on Handicrafts of Lucknow “Lakhnavi Dastkari” was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of U. P., in the opening ceremony of the Laxmen Mela 2002. This catalogue showcases all the handicrafts of Lucknow and their products.

The Catalogue “Lakhnavi Dastkari” was also distributed as part of the Folder on State of Uttar Pradesh in NRI Festival organized at Mumbai in the year 2004. About 575 copies of the catalogues were made available to the Udyog Bandhu, Uttar Pradesh for circulating it to NRIs.

India Trade Promotion Organisation, New Delhi, displayed this catalogue in Indian Companies Products Catalogue Show in Saitex, Johannesburg without any charges. Our society sends 25 copies of catalogues to ITPO who displayed them in the Catalogue Show in Saitex, Johannesburg.

In the year 2006 we published another catalogue “Nazrana-e-Lucknow”. This catalogue contains photographs of the latest designs and products of Lucknowi Chiokankari, Zari-zardozi and Hand Block Textile Printing.

SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ARTISANS

Our society established a Craft Development Center at Lucknow with assistance received from the office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts). This center is providing necessary technical assistance and facilities to artisans of Hand Block Textile Printing, Hand Embroidery, Chikan Embroidery, Zari-Zardozi and Wooden Block Making crafts.

In this Craft Development Center our society has organized two workshops – one on Design Development & Technical Upgradation, for Hand Block Textile Printing Craft and second on awareness creations among artisans.

INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURES

In India International Center at Rotterdam, Netherlands our society hired a show window of 1X1 mts. for one year for displaying the Hand Block Textile Printing products. The rent of this show window was paid from societies own resources.

NEW ARTISAN CREATIONS

To generate new artisans our society conducted about 8 Training centers for Hand Block Textile Printing and Wooden Block making Crafts. In these training centers about 120 youths both male & female have been imparted training of one year of the skills of these two crafts.

WEB PORTAL

Our society has launched an E-Commerce web portal “www.lucknowidastkari.com” on handicrafts of Lucknow. This site has online order and payment option and provides platform for direct selling/ export of handicraft products to the artisans of Lucknow.  For artisans benefit, our society has taken Import Export Code Number so that artisans can export their products directly through our NGO and can save the margin taken by the exporters.