Hyderabad: The porch of Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), Hyderabad, was lined with footwear that wouldn’t look out of place in an urban store. There were sandals inspired by Birkenstock style, polished tan-toned Oxfords with clean stitching, and more. The real story wasn’t the shoes, it was about the artisans who made them, many of whom came from marginalised communities.
“This programme provides rural artisans a chance to grow, gain confidence and a pathway to sustain their craft, and secure better livelihoods,” said D.G. Prasad Sharma, assistant director of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). “We’re proud to see some participants already starting their own businesses,” he informed. This was a product display event by artisans who recently completed training in leather footwear design and production under the KVIC artisan training programme in collaboration with FDDI.
Madhu, from an artisan family who had left the craft years ago but returned to it with help from the programme, has opened a store in Mahbubnagar. “I received a machine and tools. Now, I can provide for my family,” he said. The 25-day programme training was conducted between December 9 and January 3, included three advanced five-day courses. Participants learned modern techniques and received toolkits to start their ventures. Shekhar, from Hyderabad, used to drive an autorickshaw or work odd jobs to scrape by. Today he is creating pieces that might rival the most sought-after designs in the market. He explained how the training changed his life: “Before this, I was driving an autorickshaw. Now, I make leather footwear and my income has grown fourfold to `3,000 a day.”
The organisers are planning to give these artisans even more visibility by setting up stalls for them at the ongoing Numaish. “We are yet to set up stalls, but the plan is to do so by January 10,” said Sharma, adding that they have already booked 50 stalls under KVIC. Many of the displayed items received praise for their high quality, with some being described as export-grade products by FDDI. Trainers stated that the artisans’ ability to adapt traditional methods to meet modern market demands was noteworthy.
KVIC’s artisan training programme is part of a larger initiative to support rural communities under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana (GVY). Candidates chosen from across Telangana receive guidance on improving production efficiency, understanding market trends and reducing costs. They also receive assistance including equipment and setting up micro-enterprises. The programme prioritises individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds such as the SC, ST and economically weaker communities.
