EDII Reports 136 (Issue V, Dec 2025 - Jan 2026)

Abstract

From the Director General’s Desk: Bolstering the Union of Traditional Skills and Modern Approach - It is encouraging to witness how India's artisans are stepping out of their comfort zones, leveraging the resources available to transform their art, learning new business practices, adopting the changing measures and living a flourishing life. India's artisanal history is centuries old. But with passing time, and with the stepping in of contemporary modes of craft production, the demand for artisanal products got affected, and over time, these businesses got reduced to being informal self- employment or a side hustle. Ensuring sustenance of a business, be it a craft, service or product production, encompasses multiple operations which demand certain competencies in the artisan/entrepreneur. It needs a balanced combination of skills, knowledge and aptitude (mindset) to succeed. EDII trained artisans are testaments to how right competencies and step-matching with the changing times can move self-employment to a registered formal business.