Tracing their origins to Lord Vishwakarma, the mythological source of all creative intellect, India's artisans evolved into a distinct social group with the emergence of settled agriculture and

The Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC) was setup in 1957 to cover 10 village industries, besides khadi (cottage or handloom weaving). In 1987, its scope was expanded to 96 industries, as

The Vaijnath Leather Complex (VlC) established in 1962 in Bardoli, Gujarat, was hailed as a model of governmeritj intervention to revive the village leather industry. "Its founding fathers had

Two Delhi-based NGOs, Development Alternatives (DA) and the Centre for Technology Development (CTD), provide examples of fairly successful, contrasting modes of disseminating technology to

Why should we be ashamed of what we are doing?" demands Sudama Devi. We are earning a living." In a state where women are boUght and sold like cattle, the case of this wizened woman from ChoUhka

Despair and devastation stare India"s artisans in their face, as resource crunch, modern civilisation and government apathy combine in an onslaught on their teetering citadels. Down To Earth presents an exhaustive analysis