Handicraft in the age of globalization

Globalization is essentially about the movement of capital, products, technology and people.
Globalization is the ever-increasing integration of domestic economies into the international economy
through trade and investment rules, with the help of technological advancement. It is a type of process
which refers to the growing socio-economic interdependence of countries world wide through rising size
and variety of transactions of goods and services and culture throughout the world. Globalization is the
integration of markets, finance and technologies shrinking the world from size medium to size small and
enabling each of us to reach around the world farther and cheaper than ever before. Globalization
transforms the world into a global village.

India has a history of rich and diverse cultural tradition. Along with its diversity, the legacy of India’s craft
culture always occupy a special place because of its beauty, dignity, form, style and aesthetics. indian
culture is so vast, complex and colourful, yet simple and charming.

The globalization phase has seen an increasing demand in handicrafts sector which amounted to
increasing demand for ethnic and culture-specific goods. The growth in world tourism also added to this.
There is an increasing global trend in spending of home furnishing items and an increasing global
reaction to the mass-produced goods. Indian Handicrafts are said to be just another precious facet of its
great culture and heritage. Whether it is the simple decorated metal craft or some marvelous marble
work or some superb paintings or spectacular wood works, Indian handicrafts are going places with their
ethnic designs and flourishing textures. Indian handicraft sector has experienced positive and negative
impacts of globalization.

Challenges for the handicraft sector is a real concern. The biggest problem in the Indian Handicraft
industry is that the village craftsmen in our society remain concerned that with free trade and mass
production, hand made products from other parts of the world will out price the products of their hard
labour. These artisans are mostly exploited by middlemen who buy his products on cheaper rate and sell
it at higher rates. They are unable to sustain their products with competing machine made goods and
face miserable socioeconomic conditions and are forced to leave their traditional skilled occupations
and moving for the alternative livelihood. Due to globalization and mechanization, slowly the machines
are starting to produce the products in large scale, which were produced earlier by artisans. The
introduction of products of modern technologies such as ceramics, plastics and metallic utensils that are
steadily replacing utility of indigenous craft products in both rural and urban areas, is affecting the
economic status of the artisans. This globalization era gives various opportunities in the form of different
digital platforms which can ease their challenges.

Uthhan is easening their challenges in this globalization era. uthhan initiative has created an online
platform for remotely located artisans. The platform take advantage of emerging demand for crafts and
design elements that are culturally significant and locally made. Uthhan has launched a website
(uthhan.org) through which connects artisan with buyers. Uthhan remains the means of employment for
the families of more than 10,000 artisans as of now. Since there are no middlemen in Uthhan the prices
are affordable as compared to market.