Pawan Kalyan pitches for development of handicrafts on lines of temple tourism
Vijayawada, July 7
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday announced that measures will be taken to develop handicraft tourism on the lines of eco-tourism and temple tourism.
He assured that measures will be initiated to ensure that artisans who create artistic pieces receive due recognition.
Inaugurating the 'Andhra Pradesh Handicraft Festival 2026' organised by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation (Lepakshi) here on Tuesday, he directed officials to produce special documentaries to introduce the struggles of artisans to the world.
Kalyan also assured that common facility centres will be established cluster-wise under the VB-G Ram G.
He assured artisans that all possible measures will be taken to preserve handicrafts.
He suggested conducting continuous medical camps, cluster-wise, to protect the health of handicraft artisans.
The festival showcases artistic works by renowned handicraft artisans from various regions across the state.
By visiting every stall and purchasing handicraft products, he extended his personal encouragement to the artisans.
He mingled with the artisans, commended their skills, inquired about their achievements and challenges, and issued on-the-spot instructions to officials to provide the necessary facilities.
He assured that the coalition government will provide the necessary support for the development of the state's handicrafts.
Kalyan first visited the stall set up by leather puppet artisans from Kakinada. He examined the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavata art forms. The Ravana slaying episode performed by the leather puppet artists captivated everyone.
The artisans explained that their families, who have traditionally relied on leather puppetry as a livelihood, have now reached a stage where they are giving international-level performances. He gave assurance that special leather puppetry demonstrations will be arranged during the upcoming Godavari Pushkaralu to showcase the art form's excellence.
The actor-politician visited the Uppada sarees stall and purchased three Uppada Jamdani sarees for his wife Anna Konidela and some garments for himself.
He took keen interest in handbags, files, and other eco-friendly products made from banana fibre.
He inquired about the artisans' production methods and purchased a handbag from them.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative but I have to say - these announcements sound great on paper. The real test will be whether these common facility centers actually get built and maintained properly. We've seen so many government schemes for handloom and handicraft that fizzled out after the photo op. Let's hope this time it's different, especially with medical camps for artisans - that's something we rarely discuss.
The leather puppet stall from Kakinada caught my attention! 🎭 My grandfather used to tell stories from leather puppets during village festivals. It's amazing to see this art form getting recognized at the government level. Pawan Kalyan mentioning Godavari Pushkaralu for special demonstrations is brilliant - religious tourism can really revive dying crafts. So proud of our Telugu heritage!
As someone who works in the handicraft export industry, I can tell you this - our artisans are incredibly skilled but they lack basic infrastructure and market access. Pawan Kalyan's idea of linking handicrafts with temple tourism is strategically sound. Pilgrims often look for authentic souvenirs, and our temple towns like Tirupati, Srisailam, and Annavaram already have massive footfall. If executed well, this could create sustainable livelihoods for thousands of families.
I appreciate the effort but honestly, buying three sarees for his wife shouldn't be the highlight of this story. 😅 What about the artisans who can't afford to set up stalls at government festivals? What about those in remote villages who have no access to these platforms? The documentary idea is good, but we need more concrete steps - like guaranteed minimum purchase by govt agencies and proper pension schemes for aging artisans. Let's see if the coalition government delivers.
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