Three foreign students, Maria Tikhomirova, Bijin Zhao and Danting Huang who are doing their internship in Lacknow, are promoting Handicraft Artisans Tarry (HAT) concept in Lucknow, with an objective to assist chikan and zardozi artisans.
These students are doing internship in AIESEC's 'Vikas' project, in association with Karam Foundation and Sarvajanik Shikshonnayan Sansthan. Maria who is from Russia and studying economics and law said that the HAT is a good concept to salvage world-renowned craft of Lucknow and to motivate the artisans.
Such a concept offers opportunities to the artists to sell their products directly to the buyers and fetch more money. Also, it increases customer satisfaction, she added. It is based on Delhi Haat concept and ex-Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee's baby 'Lucknow Haat'. Marketing student Bijin Zhao from China said that, this concept allows customers to interact directly with artisans, choose showcased products and place order.
So, the profit directly goes to the artisans. Therefore, the margins to the middleman at various levels would be reduced offering a win-win position to both, customers and artisans. The HAT coordinator Mr. Shekhar Srivastava stated that they are expecting the government to offer help, but are not totally depending on them.
This concept may interest private companies under their corporate social responsibilities (CSR) schemes as it will prove helpful for both artisans and customers, by offering a fillip to such a heritage craft, he added.
Talking about the deprived situation of zardozi artisans, international trade student Danting Huang from China said that these artists work 14 hours a day involving around 4 members of a family and complete a piece of work in five days. But, their overall family earning is just Rs 4,500. While, the income of chikan artisans is even less, which is just Rs 2,500.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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