Why in the news?

  • The Union Textiles Secretary has stated that the Shilp Didi programme is driving growth in the incomes of women entrepreneurs.

Shilp Didi Programme

  • What is it?: It is a government initiative aimed at economically empowering women artisans, known as Shilp Didis.
  • Launch: Launched in 2024
  • Nodal Agency: Ministry of Textiles through the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).
  • Key Features:
    • E-training modules covering entrepreneurship, regulatory compliance, social media use, and e-commerce onboarding.
    • Access to marketing platforms like Dilli Haat, craft fairs, and curated events.
    • E-commerce integration for national and global market visibility.
    • Inclusion of 100 women artisans from 72 districts across 23 states in the pilot phase.
    • Covers 30 different handicrafts, including textiles, pottery, metal crafts, embroidery, etc.
    • Capacity-building supported through NHDP (National Handicrafts Development Programme) clusters.

Source: News on Air